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Poem
June 25, 1823
The Hillsborough Recorder
Hillsboro, Orange County, North Carolina
What is this article about?
A lament addressed to a smile, questioning its power to heal deep grief in a bruised heart, noting it only offers temporary cheer from superficial friends, ultimately sharpening the pain of hidden woes.
Clipping
OCR Quality
88%
Good
Full Text
TO SMILE.
Ah! wherefore, stronger, art thou come
To smile upon a faded chart?
Canst thou dispel the grief's gloom
Where dost an anguished heart bespeak?
Lost is the softest vanity—thy art—
Thou may'st o'er the ruffled surface calm
But for a bruised, and bleeding heart,
Mixt with affliction's healing balm.
'Twill cheer: but 'tis the eye of thoughtless friends,
Who only hover round the gay,
Whose love with their amusement ends
Nor lives beyond a fleeting day.
But ah! how doubly sharp the pain,
Which then receding feeling knows;
When driven within itself again,
It feeds upon its hidden woes.
Ah! wherefore, stronger, art thou come
To smile upon a faded chart?
Canst thou dispel the grief's gloom
Where dost an anguished heart bespeak?
Lost is the softest vanity—thy art—
Thou may'st o'er the ruffled surface calm
But for a bruised, and bleeding heart,
Mixt with affliction's healing balm.
'Twill cheer: but 'tis the eye of thoughtless friends,
Who only hover round the gay,
Whose love with their amusement ends
Nor lives beyond a fleeting day.
But ah! how doubly sharp the pain,
Which then receding feeling knows;
When driven within itself again,
It feeds upon its hidden woes.
What sub-type of article is it?
Elegy
Ode
What themes does it cover?
Death Mourning
Friendship
What keywords are associated?
Smile
Grief
Anguished Heart
Thoughtless Friends
Hidden Woes
Affliction
Pain
Poem Details
Title
To Smile.
Key Lines
Ah! Wherefore, Stronger, Art Thou Come
To Smile Upon A Faded Chart?
'Twill Cheer: But 'Tis The Eye Of Thoughtless Friends,
Who Only Hover Round The Gay,
But Ah! How Doubly Sharp The Pain,
Which Then Receding Feeling Knows;