i have got a focus
one that causes these eyes to be elated
elevated, so to dilate all that is my being

yet I stutter in seeing
as you capture these snapshots
slowing my shutter speed
to lead these negativities
from undeveloped to developed
colored pictures

images that were once black and white
gradient mediums
of grayscale tones
followed by forgetting loans
that were reeled matinees
that i paid with patient
polaroid instances of being

too much of a gentlemen
counting 1-2-3
cheese - ready smile
but these cheeses
are too aged
long forgotten

It's been one of those long travels
where reaching point B
has no words but to allow
smiling instinctively now
even before you raise that camera
to eye, my eye level
focusing on taking this picture

there is a reason
a smile is worth a thousand words
that we share the moment
and share the life
because we take pictures
with people we want to remember
preserving past our memories
because in a flash
we loose sight for an instance
all those, worries, and concerns
reflecting happiness to ourselves

so when you open that envelope
of pictures for the first time
at the one hour photo place
or dust off that old album
remember time and again
you have brought out the best in me