They said smile

                                                              Lisa Bellear

Put on your Sunday clothes, if it is too cold, then wear
a government issued blanket, damn useless those things,
not like kangaroo and possum skin. Smile at this, I look
toward this whitefulla with glasses and an accent, his mob
must be long way from ’ere.

Smile, please smile, I have a heck-teak schedule to complete.
Can I tell you something funny, interest you in some trinkets?
Do you lot have to look that way? One more time, one more chance
to be your best. Fine, up to you lot, whatever happens I get paid,
smiles or no smiles.

Stupid little whitefulla, there is no reason to smile, here in this cold
shabby studio. I have heard of these places, the smells, strange lights
and the funny way the whitefulla speaks. Smile, smile, smile over here,
look up to my right, your left. Maybe we smile afterwards for fun,
when he’s finished talking. Maybe not. Smile, sure I can find reasons to,
we all can, but not right now. We are a dignified gathering and today
we shall not do as this whitefulla asks.

© 2003 by Lisa Bellear