You took the clear, wrapping tape

From our highest shelf.

Pressed it on my mouth's corners,

And did the same thing to yourself.

Forever dimples showing up

Keeping us from appearing hostile

People always like the feeling

Of someone forcing a smile.

Our skin is stretched upwards

A drooly line of depression

A curved slope of a

Predetermined expression.

But when we return home

And our tape has worn away

Our true emotions can spill

After a fake, selfless day.

The tape has stained my face now

And I'm left with streaks of tears

But I'm happy you've been thinking

I was happy, for all these years.

I stretch my wings,

testing my artistic freedom,

leaping into the fickle winds.

With eagled perception

I locate herds of ideas and visions

that scurry on the mental planes.

Descending in rapid fashion

I grasp a thought as it flees

and squeeze the artistic juice free.

My beak clamps down

on its meaty hide, ripping,

seizing its essence from bones.

Ahh, but I am not fulfilled,

never fully satisfied,

I always hunger, craving more.

I dive again and again,

searching for that choice piece

that will give me immortality.

I’ve had this talk with my best friend before.

A talk of how sometimes you find yourself looking at your reflection in the mirror.

“God, I need some sleep.”, you’d say.

“I’m so over these bags. Why am I even up this late.”, you’d complain.

A minute or so passes of you just staring at the details of your face, the details that separate you from others.

Another minute goes by and suddenly, you’re not staring at yourself anymore.

You realize.

You realize that God created this vast world.

You realize that it’s massive, almost endless.

You realize that the universe has no beginning and no end.

You realize that you’re a part of this miracle.

And suddenly you’re small problems seem pathetic.

And you smile at how you’re blessed to witness this fantasy that is life.

“Woah, I seriously took this for granted.”