Cheesy Tradition

[deckardcanine]

While no one has recorded which photographer of yore
First told the posing subject to say “cheese,” we know what for:
The C-H sound exposes teeth; the E sound spreads lips wide.
Who knows how many other ways to smile had then been tried?

In early decades, photos took forever to create,
So people didn’t grin; it was enough to sit up straight.
In fact, they were advised to keep mouths serious and small
By saying words like “prunes” if they said anything at all.

The first known use of “cheese” is traced to 1943,
When Joseph Edward Davies (an ambassador, you see)
Declared a politician did it. FDR? Perhaps.
In any case, it soon became quite popular for snaps.

And what of other languages? A few adopted “cheese”
Or picked a word that’s close, like that for “eggplant” in Chinese.
Some settled on a synonym for “cheese,” like “sýr” in Czech,
Or chose another food. Some lack a smile sound; what the heck?

I read a declaration once that “cheese”-based grins look fake.
The source suggested “Thursday” for a more convincing take.
I figured we’d be happier to name a weekend day.
My mom suggested “payday.” I agree that’s good to say.