We've all heard it before..
"It takes 17 muscles to smile--
43 to frown"
Smiling is just too easy.
But you haven't seen the smiles I have seen,
smiles so contagious one feels the symptoms for days.
Smiles that turn the most permanent of frowns upside down.

Smiles with crooked teeth and cake in between.
They are not normal smiles,
they take up half of a face
wrinkle the eyes
and last a lifetime.

They are genetic masterpieces.
Bred and raised in Peru,
where kids smile at all,
And their grandparents smile with their whole body.
In every movement you see happiness radiate.

I dare you to find a brighter smile.

I danced for hours,
No one faltered
Joy engulfed the room,
Giving me just another reason to smile.
Life is worth smiling over.

Happiness is their religion,
So again.
I dare you to find a brighter smile.

If you do, please let me know.

Let me see smiles that take up their whole face
and the laughter that sings in their eyes.

Because that is something the world must  see.
We are in need of genuine smiles that show all the teeth
and hide no inhibitions.

We need honest smiles with joy spreading from cheek to cheek,
destroying the negative
and saving the weak.

With so much sadness and anger,
Something new must be presented.

I dare you to find a brighter smile.

Ones that could change the news
From shootings to miracles
Corruption to giving.

I know how that sounds,
fluffed up hopes dreamt by a silly girl.
But who wants 18 dead children,
With names few will remember.

So again.
I dare you to find a brighter smile.