Niceness
April 27 2023
Have a nice day, the cashier recited,
before briskly moving on
to the next in line.
I vaguely recall
when the happy face first appeared
in popular culture;
how it took over the zeitgeist
and then persisted.
It may be facile, and insincere,
but the effect
of that cheery yellow icon
is undeniable;
I feel my blood pressure drop
heart slow,
eyes narrow slightly
and laugh lines crinkle,
the edges of my own mouth
begin to curl up.
And even the harried cashier's
rote pronouncement
still felt good.
A simple gesture.
An act of niceness.
A small human touch
in the anonymous bustle
of daily life.
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