Have you ever noticed how a simple smile can brighten even the darkest days?
Smiles are powerful; they can lift our spirits, connect us with others, and spread joy in ways we often overlook.
Here are 10 striking poems that will make you appreciate the joy that smiles bring, not just to our lives but to the world around us.
Let’s dive in!
My favorite poem about smiles
#1 “We Are Not Always Glad When We Smile” by James Whitcomb Riley
We are not always glad when we smile:
Though we wear a fair face and are gay,
And the world we deceive
May not ever believe
We could laugh in a happier way.–
Yet, down in the deeps of the soul,
Ofttimes, with our faces aglow,
There’s an ache and a moan
That we know of alone,
And as only the hopeless may know.
We are not always glad when we smile,–
For the heart, in a tempest of pain,
May live in the guise
Of a smile in the eyes
As a rainbow may live in the rain;
And the stormiest night of our woe
May hang out a radiant star
Whose light in the sky
Of despair is a lie
As black as the thunder-clouds are.
We are not always glad when we smile!–
But the conscience is quick to record,
All the sorrow and sin
We are hiding within
Is plain in the sight of the Lord:
And ever, O ever, till pride
And evasion shall cease to defile
The sacred recess
Of the soul, we confess
We are not always glad when we smile.
This is my favorite poem in this collection because it just shows how powerful a smile can be that it can conceal the pain people may be feeling inside their chest.
As they say, every person has their own sorrows the world knows not and we often call a man cold when he is only sad, so we should be careful on how we treat others.
9 more poems about smiles
#2 From ‘In the Crowd’ by Ella Wheeler Wilcox
Smile on, O ye maskers, smile sweetly!
Step lightly, bow low and laugh loud!
Though the world is deceived and completely,
I know ye, O sad-hearted crowd!
I watch you with infinite pity:
But play on, play ever your part,
Be gleeful, be joyful, be witty!
’Tis better than showing the heart.
#3 “A Smiling Paradox” by John Kendrick Bangs
I’ve squandered smiles to-day,
And, strange to say,
Altho’ my frowns with care I’ve stowed away,
To-night I’m poorer far in frowns than at the start;
While in my heart,
Wherein my treasures best I store,
I find my smiles increased by several score.
#4 “Try Smiling” by Unknown
When the weather suits you not, Try smiling.
When your coffee isn’t hot, Try smiling.
When your neighbors don’t do right,
Or your relatives all fight,
Sure ’tis hared, but then you might Try smiling.
Doesn’t change the things, of course- Just smiling.
But it cannot make them worse- Just smiling.
And it seems to help your case,
Brightens up a gloomy place,
Then, it sort o’ rests your face- Just smiling.
#5 “She Is Not Fair to Outward View” by H. Coleridge
She is not fair to outward view,
As many maidens be;
Her loveliness I never knew
Until she smiled on me.
Oh, then I saw her eye was bright,
A well of love, a spring of light.
But now her looks are coy and cold,
To mine they ne’er reply,
And yet I cease not to behold
The love-light in her eye:
Her very frowns are fairer far
Than smiles of other maidens are.
#6 “One Dear Smile” by Thomas Moore
Couldst thou look as dear as when
First I sighed for thee;
Couldst thou make me feel again
Every wish I breathed thee then,
Oh, how blissful life would be!
Hopes that now beguiling leave me,
Joys that lie in slumber cold–
All would wake, couldst thou but give me
One dear smile like those of old.
No–there’s nothing left us now,
But to mourn the past;
Vain was every ardent vow–
Never yet did Heaven allow
Love so warm, so wild, to last.
Not even hope could now deceive me–
Life itself looks dark and cold;
Oh, thou never more canst give me
One dear smile like those of old
#7 “When First That Smile (Venetian Air)” by Thomas Moore
When first that smile, like sunshine, blest my sight,
Oh what a vision then came o’er me!
Long years of love, of calm and pure delight,
Seemed in that smile to pass before me.
Ne’er did the peasant dream of summer skies,
Of golden fruit and harvests springing,
With fonder hope than I of those sweet eyes,
And of the joy their light was bringing.
Where now are all those fondly-promised hours?
Ah! woman’s faith is like her brightness–
Fading as fast as rainbows or day-flowers,
Or aught that’s known for grace and lightness.
Short as the Persian’s prayer, at close of day,
Should be each vow of Love’s repeating;
Quick let him worship Beauty’s precious ray–
Even while he kneels, that ray is fleeting!
#8 “What Heavenly Smiles! O Lady Mine” by William Wordsworth
What heavenly smiles! O Lady mine
Through my very heart they shine;
And, if my brow gives back their light,
Do thou look gladly on the sight;
As the clear Moon with modest pride
Beholds her own bright beams
Reflected from the mountain’s side
And from the headlong streams.
#9 “Smiles” by Ella Wheeler Wilcox
Smile a little, smile a little,
As you go along,
Not alone when life is pleasant,
But when things go wrong.
Care delights to see you frowning,
Loves to hear you sigh;
Turn a smiling face upon her,
Quick the dame will fly.
Smile a little, smile a little,
All along the road;
Every life must have its burden,
Every heart its load.
Why sit down in gloom and darkness,
With your grief to sup?
As you drink Fate’s bitter tonic
Smile across the cup.
Smile upon your undone labor;
Not for one who grieves
O’er his task, waits wealth or glory;
He who smiles achieves.
Though you meet with loss and sorrow
In the passing years,
Smile a little, smile a little,
Even through your tears.
#10 “The Smile” by William Blake
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 Hearts deep Core
And it sticks in the deep Back bone
And no Smile that ever was smild
But only one Smile alone
That betwixt the Cradle & Grave
It only once Smild can be
But when it once is Smild
Theres an end to all Misery