Passport Picture
I was taking a nap on the couch
when my father woke me to say
we had to go get my passport picture.
Sticky and swollen from sleep
and the summer heat I got up,
looked for my sneakers, almost
resentful that he had to drag me
along. Pictures of happy people
smiled down at me happily
while I waited in the camera store.
Finally they got to me, sat me down
in front of a camera, and I sat there
in a faded t-shirt looking
at the photographer, who said
brightly, "Smile, now, you'll
have to look at this for ten years"
and my father managed to smile
wider than the photographer, and
I succeded in smiling at the camera.
Now what am I to think
when I see on the photograph
a look of acceptance, understanding,
and love?