The Smile

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 Frown
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

The betwixt the Cradle & Grave
It only once Smild can be
But when it once is Smild
Theres an end to all Misery

William Blake
From the Pickering Manuscript,
circa 1803

William Blake (1757-1827), British poet, artist, engraver, non-conformist visionary, published his most popular collection, Songs of Innocence, in 1789, followed by Songs of Experience in 1794.