To bite off the matter with a smile?
And swallow it?
No matter how bitter?
To suffer the cramps and bloat
Of indigestible offerings?
Or rather to spit it out!
Complete with smile…
Daintily into a napkin,
Observing society’s niceties.
Or perhaps with gusto-
Not counting the cost…
Not choosing the landing site,
With smile sardonic.
To have bitten off the matter with a smile…
Would it have been worth it?
Who can tell?
– jml (3/14/1997)
