Smile for your closeup

They shame you, they blame you,
What they wouldn’t say to you.
When they’re done, they’re gone,
You wonder what you did wrong.

Feels like a dark cloud over your life
The world seems full of so much strife
In times like this, all you can do is wish
Life would be better if you had been rich.

But money can’t heal pain, not even stop the rain.
Can’t break the chain nor halt the train
That you want to ride, so you can hide
And never have to think about suicide.

Is that a copout, or a quick way out
What’s that about, you want to find out.
Na, that’s not cool, you ain’t no fool
You still have a lot of living to do

You tell yourself, you’re better than that,
Life is too good to go out like that.
Times get hard, feelings get scarred,
To protect yourself, you live on your guard.

So much reason to doubt, that you want to shout
Til the universe changes this spiritual drought.
Don’t despair, you must prepare
For the change that’s about to come so near

Get up, stand up, lift your head up,
Bob Marley sang, ‘Stir it up’
Chin up, man up, step your game up
Look up and smile for your closeup.

By Kemi Salako
9/28/10