Seed Of Smile

Poet's note: Seed of Smile," a poem by Gilbert SordebaBari, delves into the contrasting emotions of confidence and uncertainty, exploring the idea of a smile as a symbol of hope and resilience in the face of challenges. The poem metaphorically portrays a smile as a seed that, when nurtured, can grow into a source of strength and sustenance, while the absence of it leads to despair and bitterness. The poem begins by establishing a clear dichotomy between confidence and uncertainty. Confidence is personified as someone who smiles, while uncertainty is portrayed as someone who frowns. This personification sets the stage for the central theme: the power of a smile to bring hope and positivity, and the consequences of allowing doubt and uncertainty to dominate one's emotions. The line "Smile is a seed of hope" highlights the transformative potential of a smile. Like a seed, a smile has the capacity to grow and flourish, inspiring others and spreading positivity. It becomes a symbol of hope, encouraging individuals to believe in themselves and their ability to overcome challenges. On the other hand, "With her, inability to cope / drown" emphasizes the negative impact of dwelling in uncertainty and negativity. A lack of confidence and a constant frown can lead to feelings of helplessness and drowning in despair. The phrase "Crown / is born in death" introduces an intriguing paradox, suggesting that something valuable, like a crown, can arise from difficult circumstances or even from the acceptance of mortality. This line echoes the idea that true strength is often born out of adversity. The "faithful seed fully grown" signifies the potential of the smile to mature into a powerful force that withstands the harshness of winter, symbolizing difficult times. Even though the smile may wither temporarily, it always has the capacity for growth and renewal. The poem then presents the idea that a smile must sometimes give way to sadness and frowns, as it must bury its seed, representing the need to confront and deal with difficult emotions. However, this act is essential for the eventual growth and nourishment that the smile will receive in the future. The mention of cooking "delicious feed" implies that the positivity and hope emanating from the smile will come back to enrich the person who carries it. The line "The grain of sadness never germinate" reinforces the notion that while it is necessary to confront sadness, allowing it to consume one's emotions indefinitely will only lead to negative outcomes. A continuous state of sadness will not bear fruit or bring any positive changes. The poem introduces the concept of doubt as a heavy burden, even more so than death. The phrase "frown became barren" depicts how negativity and uncertainty can lead to unfruitful and empty experiences. The personification of envy, saddling the individual in sadness and grumbling, indicates how these negative emotions can overpower and consume a person's sense of self. The concluding lines "in grumbling she was totally forgotten" evoke a sense of isolation and abandonment resulting from dwelling in negativity and doubt. The person's focus on complaining and dwelling in negative emotions leads to the loss of connections and relationships with others. In summary, "Seed of Smile" by Gilbert SordebaBari is a reflective and thought-provoking poem that celebrates the power of positivity and hope embodied in a smile. The poem encourages readers to nurture their inner seed of smile, allowing it to grow and flourish even in the face of adversity. It also serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of succumbing to doubt and negativity, which can lead to barren and desolate emotional landscapes. The poet's use of personification, metaphors, and vivid imagery enhances the exploration of these themes, leaving readers with a lasting impression of the importance of cultivating positivity and resilience in life.