Em Bracing the Joy

All those High School years, she stared at smiles and would envy those, lined up in rows shoulder to shoulder, enjoying the carefree days. They with porcelain jewels, of sparkling white she would have given her life to have such shine, but was much too shy, to seek their eyes At fifteen years old...she averted her eyes while beneath her nose, no winning smile would grace her face. So, to avoid disgrace, she declined to shine or laugh with the kids in the algebra rows. How often she'd long to star in the play and dazzle her whites "Be patient," they'd tell her...."You'll be a beauty, one day" And while she waited impatiently for that far away day keeping chin down, this ugly duckling, with lowered eyes It may seem extreme, but a few kids, with straight and white, called her "Metal Mouth", which dampened her spirit and also her smile. Barely could she eat the mushy fruits, passing the rows of cripsy foods, ate mostly mashed and white, pining for a crisp apple to shine She talked with a lisp, while awkward wires shined and wore horrid bands. Then on those "Ortho" days after school, while in uncomfortable chairs lined up in rows, he'd greet, "How are you, Missy?" ..with his bespectacled eyes. "Open wide"....(and with pliers that looked like her Dad's, but could fix a smile) as, with all of his might, he adjusted and tightened....correcting her whites Branded with bands across the whites Correcting the gaps, the lapse, the crooked shine A few like her with awkward smiles Would count the hours and count the days Longed for smiles to please the eye And be so blessed with perfect rows Finally one day, while sitting in rows Snip-snip!, at last, he cried..."Let's free these whites"!! With excitement, the life came back to her eyes "I'll grant your wish, with a brand new shine!" She was the happiest girl on the planet today and she left his office with a brand new smile! While sitting in school rows, she beams her white teeth, merrily joining the fun Her eyes always shine now, she stands tall and proud, singing out loud in the sun And during each school day, she smiles all the time, finally her life has begun! ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- For Debbie's Joy contest (Sestina)