The Smile William Blake

William Blake (1757-1827)

The Smile

              There is a smile of love,

              And there is a smile of deceit,

              And there is a smile of smiles

              In which these two smiles meet;

              And there is a frown of hate,

              And there is a frown of disdain,

              And there is a frown of frowns

              Which you strive to forget in vain,

              For it sticks in the heart's deep core,

              And it sticks in the deep back bone,

              And no smile that ever was smil'd,

              But only one smile alone

              That betwixt the cradle and grave

               It only once smil'd can be,

               But when it once is smil'd,

              There's an end to all misery