I was "surfin'" around this morning and found this poem and boy, did it hit home for me. I apologize if this is a repeat....but I've never seen it on the board before.

Gentle hugs....
Basket


THIS STOLEN SMILE
by Lynette Tate

This stolen smile? Well its because
You see a shadow of who I once was,
A crumpled husk of times gone by,
But please look deep,
Youll see I still try, still have that strength,
Still catch a glimpse of that, once twinkling eye,
Memories of when, I laughed and ran,
And still took life, very much, by the hand.

This stolen smile? Where did it go?
Seems just a memory, of so long ago.
My body now weak; just to live each day,
Needs more strength, than, even I can say.
Concentration, intelligence, what are they
Now that this damned malady is here to stay?
Pain & exhaustion, my constant friends
It just seems so hard at times, to see an end.

This stolen smile? Please dont judge.
Dont think Im lazy, please bear me no grudge.
Im not depressed, unhappy or sad,
Its just my life is hard, and that can, make me mad.
I do all that I can, still fight from the heart,
But that you cant see that, just tears me apart
And to tell you the truth, I hope youll NEVER Understand,
Because, that for you, is not the life, I would have Planned.

This stolen smile? Really, its NOT my choice,
And for me, just to BE, uses force, I often dont have,
Though I do often try, and if my smile had a voice,
It would say, that Im happy and Love you, and Laugh,
But you may find that looking, finds that hard to see,
I just dont have the energy, to really be me,
Im still the same person, that I, always was,
Still feisty, and spirited, and happy, not sad,
But my fight now, is in living, this life I now have.