“The Smile” by Julius Lobo


Beyond the valley, the last light reddens the sky.
A lone deer grazes near the road into town.
I have forgotten the faces at the inn that night,
Except yours: your smile holds my gaze,
Making an instant of time, inexhaustible.
My future, still unfolding in that fleeting moment.


Julius Lobo is a teacher and writer currently living in the Baltimore area. Swept up by a love of books, he earned a Ph.D. in English Literature and has held a variety of teaching positions. His work has appeared in Book Riot and the Journal of Modern Literature. You may often find him catching up on email and sipping a strong cup of Assam black tea.