Still Smiling

 Old family photos
 frustrating kaleidoscope of
 repressed memories
 unsmiling faces focused
 lens-melting glares
 and me---
 giddily smiling:
 I really didn’t get it.
  
 So much bitterness, anger
 even still, firing at family functions
 volcanoes erupting oozing virulent
 toxicity, self-righteous self-congratulations.
  
 Sometimes I still smile stupidly
 origin story ignorant
 but witness its unpleasant aftermath
 
They think I’m stupid.
 
Funny---
 I am now oddly okay with that. 

Sascha Darlington