Smile! – What if I don’t feel like it?
Write a poem about it – a quadrille – exactly forty-four words!
The rebel arises within me.
So many fake smiles crowd memory’s vault
Concealing assassins’ intent.
Besides, I have a missing front tooth
My smile appears uncouth!
(c) Dennis Ryle, January 2026
De Jackson (aka WhimsyGizmo) points out it’s the first Quadrille Monday of the year at dVerse! “The Q is my fave, and today I thought we’d just try starting the year off with a SMILE.” I smile a lot when prompted from within – but never from external urges!
I guess my quadrille reflects my inner rebellion on many things – and it was somewhat cathartic to write! Grumpy Old Man is this morning’s muse!
Wondering Pilgrim 
I love your ending!! Smiling when we don’t feel like it….kinda mirrors my own.
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Thank you, Yvonne. Yours in the quest to keep it real! 🙂
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Dennis not sure if you remember that old candy commercial for Mounds and Almond Joy?
Sometimes you feel like a nut, sometimes you don’t
Your poem made me remember it. Nobody likes to be forced, even though I like both of those candy bars 🙂
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Thank you, Lisa. That ad didn’t make it to this corner of the world, but I found it at https://youtu.be/HdwVw4KZ_Bc Perfect!
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Nicely done!
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Many thanks.
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Oh, I LOVE a good rebel poem! Love this!
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Rebels of the world unite!
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love the ending 😀
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Thank you!
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Smile and the whole world smiles with you – yeah right!
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Now that made me smile! 😉
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Fake smiles are so much worse than a frown…. but a true smile can move the world
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That is profound!
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lol love what you did here. This smile you made her is real
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