Contagion

Smiles are contagious
I saw a girl in the mall today.
Three-toned hair,
Green, black, and blue.
Nose pierced, twice.
Chains running from nose to ears.
Lips pierced,
Eyebrow pierced.
Ratty clothes.
Clutching a dirty, mangled Tigger doll
In one small hand.
She looked so depressed.
I took all this in with a glance,
Then looked into her eyes
And smiled.
She looked confused for a moment,
As if smiles were not what she expected to see, ever.
And then...
She smiled back at me.
-Composed 12/17/2002