Among the most universal

Of human expressions

Love the ultimate smile

Hate the ultimate frown

Arousing trillions of cells

Within the body

Each responds to either

Only one uplifts the spirit

And conquers despair

The light of a smile

Where anger dies

Or the shadow of hate

Where anger thrives

Then why not ponder

A nation’s fate

As if held

In the hands of a smiling face

Contagiously infectious

When trillions within

Form an outward veneer

Beyond the superficial

Rippling through

Billions of heartbeats

To a unifying rhythm

Of peace that begins

Not with a frown

But in the quiet power

Of a smile.