When you live and thrive
to find your way, survive,
you cannot cope for miles
without a stranger’s smile;
when in misery alone
your heart will turn to stone
and in sorrow wither down
so beam your best to own
the better of yourself.
Jean Dubuffet
Today it is time to start writing again after the holiday, and what better way of doing it is than to write the Quadrille at dVerse with the word today is smile.
January 12. 2026
Björn Rudbergs writings 
I love your quadrille and the picture you chose. You are so right, we need to lift each other up, and a smile can do so much.
I find it so hard to smile…. but I know it is needed.
Your honesty is beautiful and refreshing. I can relate. I’m hoping the new year brings you many, many smile-worthy moments 💗
I especially love the way your opening lines flow, Bjorn. And SO true!
Smile to that 😄😄
Much wisdom there, Bjorn. A smile can transform so many things, especially when it comes from the heart.
A smile is not a grin
the smile of a stranger is always welcome
🙂
This is incredibly deep and poignant, Bjorn! I love the flow throughout the poem ❤️❤️
Smiling all the way
a simple wisdom with a wide (smile) effect
Sometimes simple is the best
Wishing you all the bedt in 2026, lots of smiles
🎇much love
I hope for lot of smiles
The last two lines are reallly lovely.
Thank you, hope they made you happy
Lifting others up and looking for support, that gives everyone strength
It what we need.
thats for sure!
Fine work indeed, Bjorn. And I;m diggin the artwork, too. Thanks
The artwork made me happy
Wonderful illustration for this….and oh my yes! To receive a smile means the world….especially when unexpected or, for example, from a stranger walking past you on the street. I’ve always loved the saying, A frown upside down is a smile 🙂
Exactly… and it what we need.
Nothing better than a stranger’s smile, or a kind word out of the blue.
Thank you… I love those unexpected intereactions
Nicely done, Bjorn! I love the art piece!
Art making you happy is good sometimes
Art can be very therapeutic and inspiring!
Great advice in this quadrille.
Maybe we should try…
Beautiful!
Thanks
I love the effortless flow of your poem – like a spontaneous, kind smile – Jae
I would love to spread some joy.
Well said Bjorn, a smile can indeed transform us and others 🩷
I think it can… unless the receiver understands it as snarky.
Thanks Björn, If the smile is genuine – I think that would be their problem
Sometimes you do have to find it within yourself to smile, even when the world gets you down. A poem of wisdom for sure.
Making an effort is what counts I think
I like the rhyming couplets in your quadrille, Björn, which although they are complete thoughts, link the whole poem and lead us to the final unrhyming line. You are so right that one cannot ‘cope for miles without a stranger’s smile’. That’s one of the many reasons I love dVerse, where poets smile in their poems and comments, when we cannot see them, and at OLN Live.
Yes **smile**
there is much truth in this
It must be…
This is a mantra we should say each and every day 🙏☺️
My precious mother would call this “sage advice” ~ which it is, wrapped up in poetry. Wonderful, Bjorn.
Thank you… I try to be wise even in small matters.
Sometimes a smile from a stranger can make all the difference in a person’s life.
Wonderful illustration to go with your poem.
We should always remember…. smiling is something we can always do.
Yes, true!
Great poem, Bjorn! A smile can transform someone’s day.
Yvette M Calleiro 🙂
http://yvettemcalleiro.blogspot.com
And what a wonderful way to start the new year. Love this, Björn!
Love this, Bjorn! Sometimes I think a stranger’s smile is best.
Your smile can make a difference to somebody’s day. Love your poem, Björn. 😊
Yes, we do need each other 🙂
Just what the doctor ordered! May 2026 bring smiles, like your wise poem did.