Not Always Glad when we Smile
The poem explores the idea that a smile can be a facade, hiding underlying emotions of sadness and despair. It suggests that people often wear a mask of happiness to conceal their true feelings, which may be rooted in pain or sorrow. The speaker notes that even when we smile, our eyes may betray us, revealing a deeper sense of melancholy.
By James Whitcomb Riley · First published 1883 · Genre: Poetry, Melancholy, Philosophical · 294 words
First lines
We are not always glad when we smile: Though we wear a fair face and are gay, And the world we deceive May not ever believe We could laugh in a happier way. -- Yet, down in the deeps of the soul, Ofttimes, with our faces aglow, There's an ache and a moan That we know of alone, And as only the hopeless may know.
We are not always glad when we smile, -- For the heart, in a tempest of pain, May live in the guise Of a smile in the eyes As a rainbow may live in the rain; And the stormiest night of our woe May hang out a radiant star Whose light in the sky Of despair is a lie As black as the thunder-clouds are.
What this Textopian page supports
Not Always Glad when we Smile is listed on Textopian as a poem by James Whitcomb Riley, dated 1883 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Poem
- Author: James Whitcomb Riley
- Date: 1883 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Poetry, Melancholy, Philosophical, Religious, Psychological
- Length: 294 words
- Structure: 1 section, 3 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Standard (8th-9th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Not Always Glad when we Smile by James Whitcomb Riley
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
- Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph
Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering Not Always Glad when we Smile?
- How does this poem by James Whitcomb Riley fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Poetry first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- A Test by James Whitcomb Riley
- And They Are Dumb by Ella Wheeler Wilcox
- Ave Maria Gratia Plena by Oscar Wilde
- We Are Not Always Glad When We Smile by James Whitcomb Riley
- Our Kind Of A Man by James Whitcomb Riley
- On First Looking Into Bee by Franklin P. Adams
Genres
- Poetry — The work is structured in verse form with rhyme and meter, characteristic of poetry.
- Melancholy — The themes revolve around hidden sorrow and the contrast between outward appearance and inner feelings.
- Philosophical — The text explores deep existential themes such as the nature of happiness and the human condition.
- Religious — References to the conscience and the sight of the Lord suggest a religious or spiritual dimension.
Tags
Poetry · American Literature · 19th Century · Humor · Satire · Social Commentary · Philosophy · Psychology · Mental Health · Emotions · Smile · Facial Expression