Meaning of the Smiles

When I was betrayed for the first time,
I smiled because it was something new for me,
It brought a jerk along with the freshness .

The second time I was betrayed,
I smiled, because it failed to meet my expectations ;
With all its  sophistication , it never reached the
nastiness I yearned for.

On the third occasion too I smiled ,
with some effort indeed ;
because I could not remember any other reaction
that could be shown .

I was as predictable in nature as the betrayals were .
I was a perfect match, color by color.

Reviews

[Joyce S. Greene]

Smiling in the face of repeated betrayals is hard to do, Anand, and I admire your strength in doing so. On the other hand, as your final line seems to suggest, are you betraying yourself by expecting those betrayals as your due with a smile? Would it be better to not put yourself in a position of being betrayed? Hopefully, that is the solution to the puzzle you pose.. Your poetry is always food for much thought and I think it's marvelous.

[Anand Sehgal]

thanks a lot Joyce :) It is a joy to have you as a reader :)

[Vani Jalagar]

......betrayals are tough to sustain....but here it seems that you are covering pain with a smile on your lips......thank you for sharing.good 1:)

[Anand Sehgal]

not covering. Recuperating from it :)

[Robbie~xoxo~]

Through a smile you show strength. Each time you are betrayed it fuels your soul.
You live and you learn. Well penned, Anand!~xoxo~

[Anand Sehgal]

Thank you dear friend :) moving on unfazed is the key to survival

[Robbie~xoxo~]

So true, you must develop thick skin...

[Karen]

Smiling, for babies, is a rooting reflex that they're born with, a movement of the facial muscles in order to relax other muscles on the face. Perhaps, in the midst of betrayal, it's a reflex to smile in order to relax others areas of your life that require more attention. Beautiful poem that reminds readers that in the face of adversity, sometimes (just sometimes), it's better to smile.

[Anand Sehgal]

thanks a lot my friend . You said everything in " root reflex" :)

[Daydreamer]

Sometimes we are conditioned to accept situations and smile our way through them. Events from childhood and observances throughout our life's can set the course of how we respond and allow ourselves to be treated. Often deep down inside we feel that we deserve this or cannot do better. It takes a little effort and self therapy to open our eyes and see we have become an object of use and a support system for someone that is a self serving narcissist. It seems that from the last two lines of this piercing writing you did that self-therapy. Your pen served you well and your paper bled with each stroke of it.

[Anand Sehgal]

Thank you so much dear poet :) Glad that you liked it :)

[Rosaria_V]

Love love love, this was very good

[Anand Sehgal]

thanks a lot dear
:
) Love you :) will get back to review yours soon :)

[Rosaria_V]

haha thank you and yaay thanks hun

[Great Aunt Astri]

Sometimes it helps to smile at adversity. 'Pack up your troubles in your old kit bag, and smile smile smile.' Thank you for sharing this poem.

[Anand Sehgal]

thanks a lot to you. glad that you read it :)

[icelandicblue]

The mirror we hold is always so harsh. We are predictable creatures if only to protect ourselves from the knife that cuts too close to the quick. Perfidy lies in wait to ensnare us while we smile in its wake. What are we to do?

[Anand Sehgal]

no clue, perhaps a sedation would help to take eyes off !
Again an escapism- you would scream out :) !

[Rita L. Sev]

A smile that covers the hurt... but the smile fades a bit more each time...

Great piece, Anand!

[Anand Sehgal]

thank you so much Ma'am
:)
Glad to receive your comment

[Lydia Shutter]

When we are betrayed, sometimes the best reaction is one of the smile.....because we have learned a lesson and that is always a good thing. Once bitten, twice shy....and wiser. Very well written. Great imagery and very emotive. Lydi**

[Anand Sehgal]

Thanks a lot Lydi . You always motivate me to write better :)