DON'T SMILE TOO FAST

Try not to smile
too fast in crowded places
like elevators
or even at
intersections where you
are waiting
in your car, 
drumming the stirring wheel
and sipping scalding coffee
in a cardboard cup:
the citizens around
might feel left out 
of the game|
they think you're playing
and begin to tell
you stories of
the private deeds
as as the elevator 
slithers open on your floor,
the dull bell
pinging like
a decade's worth of old headaches,
or even as
the lights change
and traffic  begins to move
and your coffee has
spilt in your lap
making you scream
and the fool in the next car, 
not moving despite car horns
and swear words,
smiles when he pauses his
woe to you through his
driver's side window,
thinking your howling
is a sign of commiseration,
empathy rather than agony,.
Yeah,that joke wasn't worth remembering,
her kiss wasn't that sweet,
last weekend wasn't
that wonderful,
tell yourself whatever
you have too
and remember
the examples,
don't smile too fast
and don't drive
with coffee
nestled between
your thighs
contained
in fragile cardboard, ok?