Aniruddha Pathak - Smile

A handsome harness on a human face,
A sole trump card to win over a foe,
A happy hint to bridge a yawning space,
To defrost a drawn face in frozen snow.

Mankind’s privilege, unique, natural,
One thing that a child knows—a fruit of whole
Of her body, head, heart and all the soul,
That child grown a man manages to dull.

A child is born with a pure simple smile
That grows up to become a bit man-made—
One for each occasion as if from file,
Ah a variety of synthetic grade!

And a giver howso generous be,
Never is smile a gift nor charity,
Like learning it enriches the giver,
Richer has duly been the receiver.

There’s none that mightier can’t feel with smile,
None so poorer if deprived long of smile,
And yet smile’s smile not till given away,
A trick, a spade of ace till dealt away!

A fleeting few moments it takes a while
To dent tormenting sorrows in a pile,
Smile, O man, rid your isolating isle,
Have you not seen a child, all-grace-no-guile?

Heavy does grim face wear on human heart,
Smile gives happy memories to savour
That leaves a lifetime of fragrant flavour,
So rid baggage, rid thy heart’s weary wart.

Few would not know the wisdom of this truth.
Among those lost of smile along life’s dream,
Many may have learnt to live— gay with grim,
The sweet truth of life is an aching tooth!
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- Musings | 05.10.07 |

Aniruddha Pathak

http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/smile-411/