“You gotta pose”
They would demand
“Smile big”
“Say cheers”
Imitating the sunlight;
To camouflage the dark cloud
That covered the “family”
That family photograph
I so resented!
Flawless we appeared;
Filthy we were indeed
Fearless I posed;
Fearful I was living
Innocent our smiles made us;
The innocence I never knew
That pose
That photo
That family photograph
That never told the story of “my family” then!
Susan McMillan
Rhythm In Life 
Ha! Truth!
💞
so true! Pictures my be worth a thousand words, but don’t always tell the whole story.
Absolutely. I always wish pictures were just images that told an honest story.
they never do…
Joan Baez actually had a song that told the same tale. We also had a lot of look-good group pictures. They are not on my blog.
I enjoy my family photographs now that I have my own family. With a smile that comes from the heart.I hope and pray that my husband and I will love our children deep enough for them to keep that smile from the heart. Beyond a pose, I desire to know hearts. Thank you Elizabeth 🌹
We actually had a three generation family shoot with my daughter and grandchildren recently. Those I cherish since they are genuine.
That must have felt soothing to your heart. I enjoy a genuine photograph. Three generations captured in a moment is a beautiful story.💞
Very true for many families.
Yes indeed.
It may well be that a million such photos were the inspiration for the saying: Appearances can be deceptive! 😉
Thankfully, not so much in my family’s case!
You are blessed if not at all in your case 🙂
love
You are absolutely right. In this specific piece I was inspired by my childhood but I have observed similar situations over the years. With my husband and children, I can smile from the heart. I get to see our babies begging to have a family photo shoot; something I would have never done as a child. I dreaded putting on a posed smile. Thank you again my friend. Have a blessed day.
Well said! Pictures although they capture a moment and frame a memory don’t always reflect what is really going on behind the smiles and the eyes of the participants. Thank you for sharing. I have nominated you for the Mystery Blogger Award. Check it out. https://www.livingvsexisting.com/mystery-blogger-award-2/
Thank you Cherylene.💞
Very powerful poem! The contrasts between dark and light are clear–as is the picture you create. Well done!
Thank you so much for sharing such awesome words with us…
they are so true and unfortunately excatly reflecting our Family lifes….
💞
What a shame that we have to pose for a happy picture…. but would a Christmas greeting be the same if we sent a true picture of the real family?