Why Not?
Virginia Salter

Who is this
living on the outside,
living on the outside, looking in
Who is this
hiding all that’s inside,
letting the world see only her skin

A smile
a kind word
a simple, “Hello, how are you?”
When deep within
there’s miles of sin
and sadness, gloom and despair;
but what does she care

Why not be shallow
why not be vain
why not stand singing
out in the rain
why not cry teardrops
releasing the pain
why not, why not,
why not?

© May 14,  2000

not autobiographical, as I recall, yet it certainly could be everyone's verse