Stone Face - June 21, 2025

we wear it to be unapproachable

or cool, a hard, unmoving disguise

perfectly molded to fit over the

fearful face of feelings

especially around strangers

on the street or in meeting rooms,

crowds and elevators, definitely

in crowded elevators

that’s the perfect place to

protect any thoughts or emotions

that would expose us, and with

defenses down, vulnerable to attack

but, honestly, have you really suffered

any horrible wounds from just

opening your mouth?

when I meet someone now,

I drop my stone face and express

something observant, funny

complimentary or kind

I want to live in a world

where any wounds suffered

are not from just

opening my mouth