The Smile

You smiled at me.

Violent lipstick
On a forgiving face;
Vibrant eyes
Under hang-dog hair.

You look down
Like you are ashamed
To be so beautiful.

Please look at me.

Your skin is carefully wrapped
Like a manilla parcel
Addressed to someone else.

I can see your bones underneath.
You are there somewhere.

If I could read those freckles
Like braille...
Across your forehead
And down your caramel nose,
They would tell me what it is like
To be where you are.

You spoke to me.

You said
'That's one pound thirty-five please'.