Fake Smiles

Self-preservation peers through

Distorted laugh lines.

Tears fall down your face and slide inside

Crooked lips,

Tricking towards the gaping hole at your innermost.

Distorted laugh lines

Eyes twitching while they say cheese.

Expressions that can be peeled off

Holy illusionists

You can’t pray your way out of this.

Joy has been missing for a while and has never returned.

It’s been so long since you were truly happy.

Your smiles are cold and sharp.

They fall straight through the gaping hole that plagues you.

Sustained by

Stiff backs and sore necks with jaws clenched.

You miserable people.

Convinced that your servitude is a noble sacrifice.

Lies are lullabies.

Lies lure you into maintenance.

You people are polished poison.

Your smiles smear off

right after they’ve been stapled on.

Your suffering fuels the economy.

The system would collapse if no one ever faked a smile.