I sent you three pictures

of us

in one i had duck lips

the next a closed lip smirk

and the last a full bright smile

you replied to that one

and said it was your favorite

you posted a picture of us

out of all the homecoming photos we took

you chose the one

with my teeth sparkling in the cameras flash

I’ve spent years

locking my real smile away

and pursing my lips

never to show my teeth again

but you bring it out in me

now my photos are genuine

a big grin taking up my face

in pictures with my friends

my family

with the people on my dance team

but most of all

with you

who brought out the genuine joy

i buried deep down so long ago

to look appealing

but you love when i’m happy

so overjoyed

i laugh so hard

i throw my head back

and it feels like fireworks

shooting up into the sky

because of something funny you said

and you love my laugh

my ugly loud laugh

and now you’ve got me smiling with my teeth