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 backbone -

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;

And, when it once is smil'd,

There's an end to all misery.