I have the same wondering as Abby. I think this poem could connect to some of the ideas about gender equality written about yesterday; women especially are often expected to smile and appear happy.
Your poem almost made me cry. It describes how I feel some days and some of my students' struggles. You remind us that sometimes we are not in a place to smile and that needs to be ok.
Yes, sometimes it is very hard to smile as well as not smile. A smile is just one emotion but not the worst one. You would not want to cry, or scream, or laugh all the time. The nice part of a smile is it something that you can share, costs nothing, and usually gets a smile in return.
I really like the way your poem flowed. It speaks volumes to the "masks" we sometimes wear to "get the job done" or get through the day. It can be hard to separate hardship in our personal lives from being unwavering in our professional positions. We all have influences that weave from one realm into the other - but the expectation that we put on a good smile is, unfortunately, a part of the adult experience.
I can tell that you, just like many others in our country, know the struggle of having to hide feelings from others because you always have to seem like you've got your life together and that you're happy. Most of us have been taught that sadness is a form of weakness, so we pretend like everything is okay. A good thing about this is that yes, sometimes we are forced to fake the smile, but maybe this way we are helping others. We spread good vibes and maybe even brighten up someone else's day. We can get through the toughest times when others are kind to us, which is what we do when we smile. Great poem!
Great poem Eliza, I especially like the last line which reads"We want you to pretend that you have life without a single spot" Isn`t that true that the public wants you to project the pleasant happy face at all times ,even when we could be having a difficult time. I must say however ,that when I see someone smiling that it brightens my day.
Made me think of how we often ask one another, "How are you?" when we meet, yet most don't really want to know. I know when I have been honest and said, not too good, people are surprised. Some ask for more, but others don't. Wonder why there is this social convention we have to conform to of smiling when we don't feel like it or always responding, "I'm good, and you?" When we are not or we don't care how they are doing? I try to remind myself when people don't smile or fake happiness, that everyone has something going on in there life, and it doesn't always match the ups and downs in my life.
Eliza, Your poem reminds me of how we put on a brave face to hide our insecurities. Did you ever read Dunbar's "We Wear the Mask"? Here's the link if you want to check it out--http://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems-and-poets/poems/detail/44203
I wonder who the "we" is? Society? There are many times when people are expected to put on a smile and pretend. This poem holds so much truth.
ReplyDeleteI have the same wondering as Abby. I think this poem could connect to some of the ideas about gender equality written about yesterday; women especially are often expected to smile and appear happy.
ReplyDeleteYour poem almost made me cry. It describes how I feel some days and some of my students' struggles. You remind us that sometimes we are not in a place to smile and that needs to be ok.
ReplyDeleteIs this poem about the ways people say to girls to smile or the way people say to all of society?
ReplyDeleteYes, sometimes it is very hard to smile as well as not smile. A smile is just one emotion but not the worst one. You would not want to cry, or scream, or laugh all the time. The nice part of a smile is it something that you can share, costs nothing, and usually gets a smile in return.
ReplyDeleteI really like the way your poem flowed. It speaks volumes to the "masks" we sometimes wear to "get the job done" or get through the day. It can be hard to separate hardship in our personal lives from being unwavering in our professional positions. We all have influences that weave from one realm into the other - but the expectation that we put on a good smile is, unfortunately, a part of the adult experience.
ReplyDeleteI can tell that you, just like many others in our country, know the struggle of having to hide feelings from others because you always have to seem like you've got your life together and that you're happy. Most of us have been taught that sadness is a form of weakness, so we pretend like everything is okay. A good thing about this is that yes, sometimes we are forced to fake the smile, but maybe this way we are helping others. We spread good vibes and maybe even brighten up someone else's day. We can get through the toughest times when others are kind to us, which is what we do when we smile. Great poem!
ReplyDeleteGreat poem Eliza, I especially like the last line which reads"We want you to pretend that you have life without a single spot" Isn`t that true that the public wants you to project the pleasant happy face at all times ,even when we could be having a difficult time. I must say however ,that when I see someone smiling that it brightens my day.
ReplyDeleteMade me think of how we often ask one another, "How are you?" when we meet, yet most don't really want to know. I know when I have been honest and said, not too good, people are surprised. Some ask for more, but others don't. Wonder why there is this social convention we have to conform to of smiling when we don't feel like it or always responding, "I'm good, and you?" When we are not or we don't care how they are doing? I try to remind myself when people don't smile or fake happiness, that everyone has something going on in there life, and it doesn't always match the ups and downs in my life.
ReplyDeleteEliza,
ReplyDeleteYour poem reminds me of how we put on a brave face to hide our insecurities. Did you ever read Dunbar's "We Wear the Mask"? Here's the link if you want to check it out--http://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems-and-poets/poems/detail/44203