What is a Smile? A sudden gleam
Of sunshine welling in the eyes,
That quickly comes and quickly flies,
The outlet of some radiant dream?
Well, then a smile's a blithesome thing
Whose pure delight and painless birth
Might bear to every soul on earth
The gladness of its hidden spring.
What is a smile? A glint of scorn
At some poor soul's mistake or fear,
The keen refinement of a sneer
From secret hate or malice born?
Nay, then a smile's a hateful thing
And bears a sharp unpitying dart
To many a wearied aching heart,
To linger there and wound and sting.
What is a smile? The gently glow
Upon the edges of a tear,
To chastened grief and sorrow near,
Yet with a blessing to bestow?
Ah, then a smile's a holy thing
From a tired spirit's victory sent
To whisper hope and courage blent
To all the weak and suffering.
What is a smile? A treacherous screen
To lure unwary, heedless feet,
And mask the workings of deceit
Behind its beauty all unseen?
Nay, then a smile's a loathsome thing
That carries in its gleam a blight
To murder joy and kill delight,
And over life a shadow fling.
What is a smile? A shy glad burst
of love in true and timid eyes,
Bewildered with the sweet surprise
Of tenderness in secret nurst?
Ah, then a smile's a glorious thing,
Love's own inspired oracle
To say what words can never tell,
And thrill each heart's responsive string.
Lucy Maud Montgomery page
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