The last smile on Earth
was small and bright and honest
amid chaos and horror
as the world caved in upon itself
and man killed man and woman and
child
and land and sea and mountain;

in a world of dishonesty
the last smile was sincere

as man tore out the seams of
his carefully sewn world
the smile worked on the edges with a needle
and thread
hoping
hoping
as death himself fell under man's sword
as well
as the earth knelt and wept and begged
the smile lifted the world's chin and shone

as man killed his friends, his wife, his daughters and
sons
as he burned down his house and shop
and town
the smile stopped
and watched
and grieved
but never faltered

as man tainted the only perfect thing he'd ever been granted
as man was damned
what a shame
what a waste
the smile begged redemption

when you fight for everyone
and everyone fights
and no one knows anymore
whether they're fighting for a cause or life
the divide vanishes and humanity is left alone
with its flaws
all you can really do
is die
smiling.