Smile If You Can

Entangled betwixt the web of life,
Whence facing a situation terrible;
Support all lost, roads all crossed,
Befogged vision, intent ambiguous;
Amidst the hassle, resistant struggle,
Attempt with a tranquil earnest persistence;
Overlook the distress; Smile if you can!

The inevitable confusion life presents,
Assessing the worth of an earthling’s presence;
Not solely one but inclusive of all,
Each one’s life’s brimful of strife;
Struck at some point with forces adverse,
Troubled to the core, agonized heart-broken;
Overlook the adversity; Smile if you can!

When confronting a rival, mighty, callous,
Retaliate not with revenge, provoke not thyself;
Instill thy benevolence in thy rival’s heart,
Bestow thy compassion, benign goodness;
Leave not thy stance, amenable, cordial,
To smile at an enemy is to disarm him;
Forgive thy enemy; Smile if you can!

Image © Giti Tyagi