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The Sadness Behind Her Smile

The Sadness Behind Her Smile She was seen all over town wearing a frown upside down. Putting on a pretending face. Hiding secrets and disgrace. Did anyone know? Did anyone care? She got on her bike, “ride, ride, ride somewhere” Liquid poison, hidden away. That’s where she wanted it to stay. “He is the best dentist all around” X- rays, cleanings, new crowns. His patients showing off in town. So proud of their new teeth. Oh, the secrets that lay beneath. “How are you today?” “Are you ok?” “Where were you yesterday?” Grown-ups or friends would ask or say. She wished their questions would go away. Her home expensive, in a fancy neighborhood, showed off good, though no one believed or understood. When her life she re-arranged, her upside-down frown for the most part changed. A- B -C -D- E- F- G The Cat and The Fiddle. Diddle, diddle dee. A teacher of children she would be. To her heart, they held a key. Soon she was seen all over town, no longer wearing a pretending face, her true smile now from an honest place. His decay... brushed away. Won’t you ask how she is today?

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Caren Krutsinger

Date: 1/24/2023 5:57:00 AM

I am glad his decay is brushed away!

Janice Canerdy

Date: 9/15/2022 5:48:00 PM

Such a descriptive, moving narrative poem about challenges for a young one, Marikate! Janice

Robert Gorelick

Date: 9/9/2022 3:08:00 PM

A complex story with much courage and insight, leading to happy results, wonderful! Robert

Jennifer Fenn

Date: 6/20/2022 10:24:00 AM

Wow Marikate! What a story. I’m glad there was a happy end to it.

Mystic Rose Rose

Date: 4/6/2022 3:14:00 PM

My heart rejoices when I hear from you dear friend, having my cafe night on line tonight and we will be reading to each other, we were born to be connected so no matter how far we are, we can always cross the borders and connect. You are always welcome to join us, at any given time, much love, and prayers are coming your way, Welcome back dear heart xo

Raven Howell

Date: 2/28/2022 8:57:00 AM

Just lovely, Marikate! Thanks for sharing your spirit and journey with your words, filtered through the heart.

Mystic Rose Rose

Date: 2/13/2022 5:15:00 AM

I pray she is ok, and enjoying the smiles that come her way, thank you for sharing such an interesting story, Marikate. When we look back at our background we realize sometimes, it was only a dark tapestry preparing us for the light chiascuro colors we were going to implant , in the future. So proud of you girl, You Go to it, smile, your the best !

Marikate Kingston
Date: 2/16/2022 5:46:00 PM

Aww, you are so kind. If you lived in Ct. we could go out for lunch! You are always so complimentary. Thank you for being proud of me. My mom used to say that. Thanks to you, I am smiling. Fondly, so fondly, Marikate.

Ilene Bauer

Date: 2/8/2022 6:47:00 AM

Hey Marikate! It’s interesting reading all the comments and your explanations which, in a way, were a relief to hear because I was imagining the dentist as a molester, which is much worse to me. Glad to know there was a happy ending. Great poem!

Gershon Wolf

Date: 1/20/2022 6:10:00 PM

Sorry my first comment was so tone-deaf. I have to admit that I didn't read your poem carefully... Now that I have, my heart goes out to you... Mostly glad that you had the courage to strike out on your own... Wish I had gotten out from under the shadow of someone who squashed my development for the first 40 years of my life... Good for you, and keep smiling, Marikate ~ gw

Marikate Kingston
Date: 1/21/2022 7:02:00 PM

Please don't feel bad. It's fine. This was kind of a dark one anyway. I shall keep smiling at the kind -hearted poets on this wonderful site, like you. Never to be "squashed" again, Marikate.

Joanna Daniel

Date: 1/20/2022 5:36:00 AM

A lovely poem of a person undergoing change from within, Marikate, being with innocent little children can truly uplift one's heart:) touched to know that it is your life story, you have won over life's challenges, kudos:)

Marikate Kingston
Date: 2/16/2022 5:53:00 PM

One of my favorite things is children's laughter. They are so unaffected and darling. When I was teaching, a child asked me where I kept my clothes. She left when I was still in the room every afternoon and when she came back the next day I was there again! Thank you for commenting on my poem, children can definitely uplift your heart.

Karen Jones

Date: 1/19/2022 5:01:00 PM

Delightful to read. I loved the pace and whimsical rhyme within a great story. I can tell you are a fabulous creative teacher.

Marikate Kingston
Date: 1/19/2022 7:04:00 PM

Gee, I think I need a kleenex. I'm touched by such kind words. I miss it so, so, so much. I retired early to homeschool my son in Vermont. The schools were horrible and he was diagnosed gifted. Every day was better than the next when I was in the classroom. I liked the pace of this poem too, thank u. It's the way I would read it outloud. Kind of a dark poem I guess but it was cathartic to write. I'm so moved by what your comment. Thank you.

Heidi Sands

Date: 1/19/2022 12:12:00 PM

Great story! Especially positive with the decay going away. I will ask how she is today? But, I bet I know an answer pretty close. Well written :)

Marikate Kingston

Date: 1/19/2022 11:17:00 AM

Dear Deb, thank you for replying to my poem. The poem is about my dad, the town dentist. He was a drinker, not a good one. I grew up & moved away to be a kindergarten teacher. This changed my life in wonderful ways, cleansing a lot of "dad dental decay from my soul" It's kind of dark. Cathartic for me though. Thanks for taking an interest. It's always nice to hear from another poet.

Deb M

Date: 1/19/2022 1:19:00 AM

A great story Kingston …I enjoyed it! Someone you know or fiction? Debx

Marikate Kingston
Date: 2/16/2022 6:18:00 PM

Unfortunately, my dad. He was an alcoholic. Despite his behaviors, when he wasn't drinking, he gave us hundreds of really special experiences. Trips to Radio City, hotels in Montreal, flights to Jamaica. It was such a bittersweet childhood. I will be always working on myself because of it. Thank you for your question. It was nice to be asked.

Gershon Wolf

Date: 1/18/2022 8:12:00 PM

I hope that no one was 'teething' her... ~ The man with a lithp, but no thmile.