i could tell it was dusk
when you snapped the photo
probably on a pre-set timer
she had her arm wrapped
around your shoulders
and your knees were bent slightly
to keep the young boy close
like a son

this photo made me realize
every photo is a family portrait
the ones lining the pages
of history textbooks
and the pages of the news
all a gallery of mixed-matched
family portraits

you’ve got the ones that don’t belong
standing far in the back
visibly separate from the rest
and then there are the ones
the portrait were meant for
the ones who stand boldly
in the front with bright smiles
like everything’s fine in the back

the history’s and personality’s
held in the scars
and smiles
and tears
and bruises
and wrinkles
of all the faces

it was tragically beautiful