Ice Cream's Innocence

Today I watched a child smile 
small, easy, innocent. 

A face that has not yet learned 
what the world can take and give. 

No shadow of loss, 
not the unbearable grief 
of losing a world’s fair goldfish 
and finding the hard truths of heaven and hell. 

No weight of numbers, 
no whisper of bills or burdens 
passed between tired hands. 

Just sweetness
melting ice cream
and a reason enough to be happy.

He smiled
as if nothing could interrupt it,
as if the world
had not yet introduced itself.