Face to Face
I delude myself In many little ways I smile When people mouth inanities I nod Even when I disagree To argue is exhausting He will not He sticks to his values And retorts hotly He will not smile If he be offended He glares at my follies And shakes his head in disgust My mask slips a little When worn too long I then grow silent Giving myself time I don it again and smile He looks at me with knowing eyes A trace of disbelief arching his brows I look at him and smile cheerfully My face carefully made Who is wiser He or I?