The Silent Smile

The Silent Smile

By Paul McCann

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Inspired by all the debutants

so well presented at the dance,

in gowns and crowns and high heel shoes.

with coloured lights of many hues.

A brief moment captured in time.

A friend had raised a glass of wine.

A cough was heard and then a laugh.

Somebody took a photograph.

No one asks for a stolen shot,

Or to give back what’s been forgot.

A faraway look deep in thought

In a dreamlike state that was caught.

On a face you can see the smile

Like a Mother has for her child.  

Then somewhere in all the surrounds

An echo of those lonely sounds.

The clatter of food trolleys there.  

The chatter of talk everywhere.

A tinkling of glasses is heard.

Silence comes, you can’t hear a word.

Somewhere as grace was softly said

Before the mouths had all been fed

plates were set with silver spoons ,

On tables with soft pink balloons.