Don’t smile at me she cried

Do you think I do not see

The apathy you can’t hide

Teeth white with insincerity

And on the one who has smiled

A shadow fell across her face

She regarded her new mood

A cloud did the sun replace

A smile now a vicious grin

She looked upon the scowler

And thought “Screw you”

She elected to smile wider

Don’t smile at me she cried

Do you think I do not see

The apathy you can’t hide

Teeth white with insincerity

“My smile was to remark

My lack of ill intent

And a general good will

On a day of content

Now of you I know little

Save what you have shown

Now because it hurts you

My smile has just grown”

Don’t smile at me she cried

Do you think I do not see

The apathy you can’t hide

Teeth white with insincerity

“And think for one moment

What good manners mean

That though they differ

Good will is in them seen

You greet with “how are you”

In an apathetic voice

You would rather not know

Given ultimate choice

Don’t smile at me she cried

Do you think I do not see

The apathy you can’t hide

Teeth white with insincerity

“I understand what you mean

I recognize it as being polite

Even if it’s not my culture

This greeting is yours right?

But here you are scowling

About good manners in mine

And thus good turns to bad

With amusement at your whine”