I can smile,

Though sometimes it's so hard to do.

I can laugh,

Though sometimes the tears are running down.

I can look sometimes so lightminded,

And...sometimes...so thoughtful.

I can joke, I can bear a lot of things,

But...sometimes I can't give away my offences,

And can't stand any pretences.

And...at those horrible moments

My soul pains hardly.

Fortunately, nobody can see it.

Some people say

They would like to be in my shoes.

It looks like loose

To be in one's shoes.

I think it's so foolish and disgrace,

 They do not look at my face,

They do not look at my eyes,

And...they do not realize

That happiness comes with worries,

That love comes with pain.

Could I be happy without any grief?

Could I know what happiness and love is

Without any worries?

Could I laugh or smile

If I didn't know what tears are?

Could I comfort someone's soul

If I didn't feel the pain of my own?

I wouldn't like to be in anyone's shoes.

I like to live my own life.

And make my own booze.

 
Larisa Rzhepishevska (Odessa, Ukraine)