Grouch
There once was a Grouch who never smiled
Whose expression was always dismal
And regardless of the company they kept
Their outlook was always abysmal
Even if others would say, “Cheer up!
The sun will eventually shine!”
The Grouch would frown and reply, “Maybe not!”
With a pessimistic whine
“The world is what you make of it!”
The believers said with passion
But how much could the Grouch achieve
With a face that was so ashen?
What kind of difference can one make
With no fire in their eyes?
What good’s a Grouch who just critiques
But never really tries
To make the world a better place
With passion and with cheer
What do Grouches hope to gain
With their melancholy sneer?
The most important thing to keep
In mind for every day
Is that your attitude affects
The things that you will say
And attitude’s directly wired
To muscles in your face
It’s your expression that reveals
The mood that’s at your base
So it’s ironic that the Grouch
Could not make the connection
Between their negative outlook
And their own complexion
But something funny happened when
The Grouch did try to smile
Their attitude improved and their
Approach was less hostile
By curving corners of their mouth
Upward instead of down
They found out more could be achieved
With smile instead of frown
The Grouch discovered what you give
Is squarely what you get
If anger is what you put out
Then you will be upset
But if it’s joy you choose to spread
To everyone you meet
Then you’ll discover how kind in
Return the world will treat
And so the Grouch would sneer no more
And not sit back and gripe
Armed with smile as their sword
They would engage the tripe
And always beamed from face and heart
Through good times and through bad
Recognizing the effect
On others that it had
And other Grouches would befall
The power of the grin
When they saw how their mood and smile
Were indeed akin
~Miro
