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 :)

[Gaurav Walia]

It's pretty good, pal... Keep it up!

[Anand Sehgal]

thank you friend :)

[Dreamer]

Excellent poem...very well penned.
it seems like we all get betrayed at some point in time, it is rather sad that we grow to expect it when the realization is that we don't deserve this.

[Anand Sehgal]

Life unfolds in a bizarre fashion every other day !

[Dreamer]

indeed it does..well said!

[Ruth]

We all fall prey to bearing a smile don't we? Potent piece hon and allows the reader to see they are never alone wearing that smile too x

[Anand Sehgal]

glad that you felt connected :) thank you Poppy

[Frieda P]

Hiding behind that facade of a smile, all the while building up momentum waiting on the next betrayal. I think we often psyche ourselves out for the impact, this way it won't seem so bad....well done!

[Anand Sehgal]

thank you Frieda. The key is to remain unfazed.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

being a perfect match for the betrayals

wow...what a philosophy...and i really like how you built towards that as the poem emerged from the first word on.

[Anand Sehgal]

Thank you so much Jacob :)

[Girl Friday (Sarah W.)]

The idea of smiling in the face of heartbreak...great moral and concept for a poem. For me, this felt like one of your most honest works. I could really get a sense of your own nature in this one, and the soft texture of your voice gave me a sense of someone who holds their head high despite heartbreak. Thank you for sharing this...made me smile today.

[Anand Sehgal]

Thank you for your kind review dear :) Love you :)

[TL Boehm]

a conditioned response to pain. This is a powerful poem - speaking of how we deal with hurt - but it alludes to something much much deeper when those repetitive patterns occur and we continue to smile because that is what we know to do - simplified this is the key to why some stay in abusive situations.
Wise poem.

[Anand Sehgal]

thanks a lot TL. Glad that you liked

[Pryde Foltz]

We do need to stand up for ourselves at times. Well done.

[Anand Sehgal]

thanks a lot dear :) enjoyed your Tankas :)

[MsJewel]

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

I love the whole poem, but these lines really spoke to me. It is sad that we allow someone to betray us and then grow to expect it - all the while forgetting this isn't what we deserve.


A very thought provoking and well written poem.

:) Julie

[Anand Sehgal]

you are lavish in your praises :) Love :)