waiting to live

I could see the weight in your smile

But to your friends it looked the same.

What’s the difference anyway?

Everyone’s smile looks like that, right?

There is no joy untainted by my burden

So you say.

When I saw that shameless smile

For the first time

I fell in love immediately.

What’s the difference, anyway?

The weight is still there, but somehow

Your joy found its liberation.

My greatest wish for the world is

That all can share that sweet smile.

I had written it off as myth for

My entire life until that day,

And how simple it was, the path

To free the joy we’ve always had!

How rich you can be

With nothing but a smile,

With nothing but that freedom

Which nobody can take away from you.