No tics, no tocks.
I look straight ahead
and life looks back at me.

Behave yourself, it says. No
carrying on.
Just carry on with bravery.

I look life in the face. I am
sorry to say
it’s really ugly.

From the A to the Z
From the head to the toes
From the
beginning to the end.

And I pat myself.
I always knew, and never
expected better.

But I allowed hope, and
waited, still waiting with a
smile.

Which some call a grimace.

Photo by Avonne Stalling from Pexels