The next poem in my path is "Behind the Smiles"by Chris Martinez. This selection is also by a band member from the same collection I have used to select my three "not from the class" poems for this final project. This poem talks about the damage that lingers for years and years to come. He uses imagery of not natural things being placed to hinder the natural things. Staples in eyes, nails in wings etc. Though, now you are removed from the situation, you have these scars that can't be removed. You hide behind a mask of fake smiles and though you are flying, you can never get as close to the sun because your wings are now pieced together by wax.

“Behind
the smiles”

The staples in my eyes

The nails in my wings keep me from flying too high

I’m choking on my words

Pathetic imitations

Surrounding you and i

Take my mask and this disguise

I won’t try hide behind all the smiles

My plate is full of knives

Biting on the blades and choking on the lies

My wings are made of wax

If the sun burns them away will I fall out of the
sky?

click here for a reading!