Often there are battles in life that people never see or understand. What’s never visible to the mere eye sight are the wounds that never show signs of blood. This poem, Smile, was fruit of my own journey in this world through what I witnessed in my own life and that of others in things like judgment, hypocrisy, betrayal, and unseen trials. If you are carrying your pain silently and still manage to stand tall— this poem will be relatable, I think.
Smile
I’ve remained the target—
Of bullets not of metal,
But venomous judgment and blames unsaid,
Of mockery loaded, sharp and tight,
Of fingers pointing like guns at night.
In the past, they aimed.
In the present, they fire.
And the future waits with silent ire.
But here I stand, no shield, no guile—
Cut, poisoned, but still… I smile.
Not all who suffer bleed visible red lines;
With collapsed dreams and shattered spines.
But nothing can dim the fire inside—
for an avatar too fierce to subside.
I’ve seen those guns behind their eyes,
Backstabbing dressed in calm disguise.
I’ve worn deception like a cloak,
After words choked, I finally spoke.
And no—
I won’t kneel or bend or beg,
I walk with power in every leg.
They think me broken, lost, defiled—
But I am proof of grace… I smile.
Each bullet sings a lesson’s sting,
Each scar, a medal—a holy ring.
They came with hate; I showed my style.
Now I defy my pain… and again smile.
My truth would leave most people numb.
The Hand behind all this is not of this realm.
As the enemy wears many faces so vile—
So, it’s only natural for me… to smile.
I’ve wanted to write a poem like this many times, but sometimes you have to wait to speak the truth—because truth can be dangerous. Sometimes, deception serves as armor, just to survive and wait for the right moment to speak and let people know.
If you’ve ever wondered why the world has no clue about your calm, your quiet resolve, or your will to survive—know that you’re not alone. If you have your own story, or someone else’s, that echoes this feeling, feel free to open up in the comments section.
— Vijay Praveen
