The Mask

We all have our Masks...

The Mask 

A Poem by Colton Warr

Tell me, if you could,

What can you hide behind your mask? 

What treacherous thoughts, what eroding emotion. 

I will answer, but only because you ask

I'll tell you, because I can 

A divided family, a questionable love

A decision made to leave a perfect girl 

An innocent mirage that I cannot get out of

I'll tell you, because I can 

New beginnings and abrupt endings 

A phantom haunting my heart and soul

My god, where am I heading? 

I'll tell you, because I can 

Am I the one doing the marooning, or am I being marooned? 

Pushing and pulling at my own pleasure 

Can't you taste my wound? 

I'll tell you, because I can 

I love my family, I hate my true love

Or perhaps did I confuse the two? 

Can't you tell, I am such the wholesome Dove? 

I'll tell you, because I can 

Have I gone too far, should I be caged alone?

I deserve to be by myself 

Forever destined to aimlessly roam  

I'll tell you, because I can 

What damnation awaits me, you politely ask

But perhaps it is you that should decide

Am I the one wearing a Mask? 

Reviews

[guy drori]

This is very insightful. The poem had a nice flow to it due to good use of enjambments. In a way, life is a big masquerade ball, and we usually never know the true emotions or identity of a person until he chooses to reveal it. Thanks for sharing this. I can really relate

[Colton Warr]

Thank you so much, Guy! I appreciate your kind words! I couldn't agree more, life can appear to be one big masquerade ball. And it could sometimes take a lifetime to actually get to know someone without the influence of a mask. Thanks for stopping by and giving this a read!

[Fate]

this is nice. I like your poem..
everybody has their own secrets. we all wear this mask but that doesn't mean we are that very bad person.

[Colton Warr]

Thank you so much! I'm glad you liked this one! Exactly, we all have our masks, and that doesn't necessarily make us bad people at all, but it does mean we all have something to hide. Thanks for giving this one a read!

[John Alexander McFadyen]

A very introspective and sad piece in reality. I wrote a piece about Masks because at time we think we are so obviously outcasts with horns when in reality everyone harbours some guilty secrets.

[Colton Warr]

Exactly, John! Everyone has their secrets, therefore everyone has their masks. I'm glad you were able to relate to this one, as I think everyone can. Thanks for checking it out, John! I appreciate you giving it a read!

[Willard Wells]

Everyone has a mask and it just depends on how they use it. Beautiful poem with a very nice flow of words. I really like the "I'll tell you , because I can". And trying to get out from behind your own mask is not always easy. Thanks for sharing.

[Colton Warr]

Thank you, Willard! I'm glad you enjoyed this piece! I agree, I believe everyone has their own mask. What can be dangerous is if you don't know whether you're wearing it or not because of how frequent we sometimes use them. Thanks for checking this one out!

[zainul]

Mind blowing piece.
We often take masks to hide the actual situation.

[Colton Warr]

Thank you so much, my friend! I appreciate the kind words! I'm glad you liked this piece. I do believe that we all have our masks and the most liberating feeling in the world can be to rip it off and reveal oneself to the world. Thanks for reading!

[Vishuddha]

I can hide anything, sometimes everything, behind my mask, not because of treacherous thoughts but because I don't trust you. I don't trust anyone. Not really. Everyone has their own agenda. And, what is yours? Not worthy of a perfect girl? Rather have a wound? Be marooned? Caged alone? Aimlessly roam? Good images! What, behind your mask, do you hide? You hide what's inside. Don't want to tell us the reason why?

[Colton Warr]

I truly believe that everyone has their own masks. Certain things in our lives that we don't think we deserve, certain things that happen and cause us to hide a part of who we are. Society also has a way of making us think we should hide something. I think everyone can relate to this piece. I appreciate you stopping by and giving this a read! Thank you!

[Vishuddha]

We live in a world of image. We project who we want to be and hope we turn into it. Society has a way of making us think we should be something we are not and we try to be that so we fit in. Of course, it doesn't work. We are still who we are. Can't change. Free will? Maybe not. Maybe that's just a way to make people feel guilty about who they are. Guilt is a great tool for manipulation.

[Heartful5160]

I remember when I wore the mask quite often. i never wanted anyone to see the pain or the hurt or the confusion that was really going on inside, so I placed the mask on my face. It's never good at all to leave the mask on for a whole life time. At some point you have to take it off and believe me, you may not want to take it off, but someone or something will make you take it off. Really in the end its all for the better! Great write and keep writing!

[Colton Warr]

Thank you so much! I believe everyone can relate to this piece. I understand exactly where you're coming from. Certain situations and society push us to a place we don't want to be and become someone we don't want to be. So we put on a mask. The most liberating thing in the world can be to rip said mask off and show the world a piece of your true self. But that mask always seems to come back, doesn't it? Thanks for giving this a read, I appreciate it!

[Heartful5160]

Your more than welcome!! I enjoy reading other peoples work and see where they stand with their imagination..Yes, society puts in a place at most times where we don't even want to be, but it seems like we end up there no ifs or buts about it...But sometimes it gets so old to leave the mask on and pretend to be someone or something were not..It's nice to get out and actually be who want to be and be the person God intended you to be. Great write though!!!Keep writing!!!

[Lyndy]

Nice one! I enjoyed reading your poem! :D

[Colton Warr]

Thank you so much, Lyndy! I appreciate you stopping by and checking this one out! I'm glad you enjoyed it!

[Penny]

Bravo! Very intriguing and magical piece. Loved the repitition, takes more than one reading for the effect. I learned in psychology that personality evolved from Greek term for masks 'persona'. This poem tells me why. Nice description of different 'personas'. Salute!

[Colton Warr]

Thank you so much, Penny! Thats cool that you guys kind of talked about something like this in your class! I appreciate your kind words! Thanks for reading!

[Penny]

It wasn't a choice, we HAD to talk about it, but I am sure when I become a lecturer I'll tell my students bout this poem too.

[Emily]

Great idea for a poem!
I really liked this one!
Keep it up!!

[Colton Warr]

Thank you very much, Emily! I always appreciate you reading my work! I'm happy you liked it!