The smile displayed
many shades of anguish and despair,
trapped within the creases
of long held flare of angst
and many unheard blare

Yet she remained
ignorant of the existing clamor
and reciprocated to his smile
with a naive ardor

She played along
to his pretend charade
appearing unaware
to any of his heart’s turmoil

He could never guess
her intention well,
for her smiles
were laced with shades
of defying abstruseness

Copyright © Shantanu Baruah