Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, SMILES, by ? ROLLS


Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

SMILES, by                    
First Line: What is that smile that over the cheek
Last Line: A cloudless heavenly morn shall rise!
Alternate Author Name(s): Rolls, Henry, Mrs.
Subject(s): Smiles


What is that smile that o'er the cheek
Of artless blooming childhood strays;
That revels in the dimple sleek --
That charms the mother's tender gaze?

'T is the bright sun of April's morn,
That rises with unsullied ray;
Nor marks the clouds, that swift are borne,
To wrap in shades the future day!

What is that soft, that languid smile,
That mingles with a tender sigh;
Light spreads the timid blush the while,
And sweetly sinks the melting eye?

'T is the bright dew-drop on the rose,
Sweet remnant of the early shower,
That will its ripen'd leaves unclose,
And to full fragrance spread the flower!

What is that smile, whose rapturous glow
Passion's impetuous breast inspires,
Whilst Pleasure's gaudy blossoms blow,
And the eye beams with guilty fires?

'T is the volcano's baleful blaze
That pours around a fatal light;
Whose victim dies that stops to gaze;
Whence safety is but found in flight!

Whence is that sad, that transient smile
That dawns upon the lip of woe;
That checks the deep-drawn sigh awhile,
And stays the tear that starts to flow?

'T is but a veil cast o'er the heart,
When youth's gay dreams have pass'd away
When joy's faint lingering rays depart,
And the last gleams of hope decay!

What is that bright, that fearful smile,
Quick flashing o'er the brow of care;
When fades each fruit of mental toil,
And nought remains to check despair?

'T is the wild lurid lightning's gleam,
Swift bursting from a stormy cloud;
That spreads a bright destructive beam,
Then sinks into its sable shroud!

What is that smile, calm, fix'd at last,
On the hoar brow of reverend age,
When the world's changing scenes are past,
And nearly clos'd life's varied page?

'T is the rich glowing western beam,
Bright spreading o'er the dark'ning skies;
That shows, by its mild parting gleam,
A cloudless heavenly morn shall rise!





Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!


Other Poems of Interest...
Home: PoetryExplorer.net