What Lies Behind The Smile

Whenever I look at the mirror,
There is a woman I see.
She does her eyebrows, and ties her hair tightly
She tries to look good. She does that everyday.
Before she goes to work,
She looks straight back at me,
She bids goodbye,
Wears that same smile that I usually see.

Now, I am wondering,
what lies behind that smile?

When she gets back, I know she is tired.
She is exhausted,but she doesn't mind.
For when she is at work,
She hones the minds of "the land's future".
When she is home, she cuddles the only child
She once carried inside her womb.
That inspires her to do better at what she does.
She is happy. She never seems sad.

Now, I know.

But there are times
When I don't get to see that smile.
She doesn't do her eyebrows,
She doesn't fix her hair.
She doesn't try to look good
She no longer cares.
She doesnt try to do anything.
She just stares.

Now, I am wondering,
what bothers her?

Then, she cries.
Tears come rushing down her eyes.
So sad does she look. She is torn.
Her face seems forlorn.
I don't just see her. I hear her.
She sobs. She speaks at the same time.
So soft is her voice that some words are not clear,
But I understand what she means.

Now, I know.

This time, I don't just hear her,
I feel her. She is in pain.
The girl in the mirror
Is loaded with burden.
I can feel the weight,too.
Her hands cover her face,
Not wanting me to see
The countenance that I am not used to.

Silence.

Then, she hears a voice calling, "Ma!... Mama!"
Slowly, she uncovers her face,
She wipes away the tears.
And she takes a deep breath.
She closes her eyes for a minute.
When she opens them, she looks at me again
And shows me that usual smile,
And tries to look neat.

She leaves.

Now, once again, I am left wondering,
what lies behind that smile?