People are drawn to a smile

People are drawn to a smile

Happiness is prescribed

As protection against

Everyday afflictions

Laugh and the world

Laughs with you

Walk on the sunny side

Be swept up by adulation

Worship media darlings

Who rise up on a tide

Of self congratulation

Populist machination

Until the truth dawns

Lemmings do not commit

Suicide but rather

Try foolish things in the belief

It is for the greater good

Who chooses whom to follow

What truths hide the lie

On the other side of a smile

There may be loneliness

Too much sadness locked away

Hatred for the words

You have to say

What would you have me do

Walk on the wild side?

Elvis had a lip curl

Grimace

And you may be lonely too

Tyrants wear disguises

They change appearance

With the wind

Whatever needs adapting

Clever soldiers

Leaders of the pack

Wear different faces

But know when to brighten

A countenance

Be wary of those who

Smile too easily

They are statisticians

Human nature codifiers

Crowd pleasers

Ego-teasers

Cult leaders

Mind readers

With a clever line

To reel you in

Before their teeth clamp shut

On your jugular

Vampires can be smilers

And all of them are

Trying to be human too