William Blake Month: “The Smile”


There is a smile of love,
And there is a smile of deceit,
And there is a smile of smiles
In which these two smiles meet;


And there is a frown of hate,
And there is a frown of disdain,
And there is a frown of frowns
Which you strive to forget in vain,


For it sticks in the heart’s deep core,
And it sticks in the deep back bone,
And no smile that ever was smil’d,
But only one smile alone.


That betwixt the cradle and grave
It only once smil’d can be,
But when it once is smil’d,
There’s an end to all misery.

(William Blake, “The Smile.”)


It happens.



Screencap comes from Masculin féminin (Jean-Luc Godard, 1966), and the actress speaking is yé-yé singer Chantal Goya.

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2 Responses to “William Blake Month: “The Smile””

  1. d Says:

    what movie is the first picture with the subtitle form?

    • E. Says:

      I am so glad you asked that, because I didn’t realize I’d forgotten to put the photo credit up. The still comes from Masculin féminin (Jean-Luc Godard, 1966), and the actress speaking is yé-yé singer Chantal Goya. I’m going to add that info to the post and tags, thanks!

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