A happy lip—breaks sudden
"A happy lip—breaks sudden" is a short poem that sets two kinds of smiles side by side. One breaks open without warning, quick and unplanned. The other is worn with careful patience, so steady that it begins to resemble pain. Dickinson's speaker studies this second smile, freshly gilded and polished to turn away every searching glance. In only a few dashes, the poem asks what a face is hiding and whether merriment can be a mask. Read it online for free.
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/ririro-com-poetry--6577576/support.
The skinny
The skinny isn't ready yet — notes appear once the transcript is processed.