When They Smile
In this season of homespun joys,
you're wondering,
What's up with the Mariscal boys?
Since you ask, we're bound to report,
endeavoring to keep it short.
Each boy has his own distinct style,
a twinkling grin, a winning smile.
Ricky's smile stretches ear to ear,
and Michael's is no less prone to endear.
Around the table we delight
listening to their youthful insight.
What they say can be outrageous,
but their laughter is contagious!
Most special though, is Billy’s smile
Filled with light and free from guile.
Since he's free of social grace,
just when a smile will cross his face
is hard to say, but this I stress:
He smiles solely from happiness.
Pure and simple. I cannot chart
the ways in which this melts your heart.
Like the time I took a chance
and drove him to a high school dance.
I dropped him off - would he have fun,
how social was my autistic son?
I drove away, thoughts edged in doubt
and tried my best to block them out.
I don't know how that night progressed
what songs were played, who danced the best.
What I do know: Billy had fun.
I know because I spied my son
for a half-moment just before
he saw me waiting by the door.
He was grinning. . .Wait. It seems
my son's smile positively beamed.
I glimpsed some happiness distilled,
so rare and good, and so fulfilled.
That smile said, like my younger boys,
Billy has his moments of pure joy.
He's gone to many dances since.
It only took one to convince
his mother that to never try
is to let things pass him by.
(I've learned he likes to dance with girls,
perhaps that's when his smile unfurls.)
So that's what's up. Each boy's a gem
(sometimes in the rough), but each of them
has a style that carries us through,
a smile that fits him, good and true.
India DeCarmine
