You Don't Know Me

Not sure a description is needed. :)

You Don’t Know Me

 

You see my face,

Yet that’s not me…it’s not the essence, but the mask you see.

 

You hear my voice,

But the timbre misleads…a false, but comfortable reality, to believe.

 

You nod at my words,

Empty as they are…acknowledging the veneer; never the scars.  

 

You accept what you perceive,

Such a neat little box.

Wrapped in conformingly pretty paper,

That in itself mocks.

 

You see the façade,

It’s what I allow…but that’s never been me, and isn’t me now.

Reviews

[Kathy Van Kurin]

"You don't Know Me"
ReedWrite,
Third stanza gave the full thread of inner working of the human soul. We can only respond to one another from a outer persona:
"You nod at my words,
Empty as they are...acknowledging the veneer; never the scars."
We are a complex and wonderful bundle changing an in process. With many layers. I guess it depends on what we allow viewed of ourselves and how long we are acquainted with any one person.
"You see the facade,
It's what I allow...but that's never been me, and isn't me now."

[ReedWrite]

Thank you, Kathy. I appreciate the review.

[Dr. YumnaKay]

I think we humans are so good at wearing masks, in deceiving others that we often deceive ourselves in what we truly are or rather forget our trueselves.. This was thought provoking! I loved reading this! Nicely penned ☺

[ReedWrite]

Thank you very much! Glad you enjoyed it.

[Tony Jordan]

The real 'us' is a precious commodity in some people's eyes and with that in mind it is emcumbent upon us to only let those we fully trust close enough to see. And then again - they are the ones who often do the deepest damage. Does anyone ever truly get to know someone - how many times does life tell us No! Tales of the wife and the secret cross-dressing husband, the mom and her drug-taking son, the friend and their friend who back-stabs them at every opportunity.

It's a dog eat real persona of other dog world out there.
Good writing RW.

[ReedWrite]

So true, Tony. I'm not sure we ever really know anyone. We know what they allow us to see...we form opinions based on our personal perceptions. We see what we want to see...and often overlook the facts. Thank you for reading and commenting. Appreciate it.

[Tony Jordan]

Yes its a two way street.
Thank you RW for always being such a friend.
Happy New Year.
Hope to see more of you next year - well not more of YOU per se...ooh this is getting awkward ...
*runs away with red face*
mwah ...

[ReedWrite]

LOL..welllll, Tony. A bit of flush looks good on you, my friend. Makes me wonder what other things might bring that blush to your cheeks. Innocent smile--> :)

[Tony Jordan]

Lots of things
Like, like sunburn and netflix and chilling...hahah
;p

[An owl on the moon]

This face in the mirror, how it mocks the world, for it is not the reflection of what is within, only a glimpse of the shell. You speak this with such vibrant depth, letting us know that all we can behold is what you unveil to us. Stirring, poignant poem.

[ReedWrite]

Thank you C!
You read poetry the way you write it...stepping into every word, feeling it, living it, internalizing it. Thank you so much for your beautiful comment, and for taking time to read and review. Hug.

[An owl on the moon]

Words are a most extravagant escape from life's cold winds, so it's my pleasure. :)

[Adam Adams]

sometimes, it's really nev'r true what we see through eyes, & feels through the vibrancy of bare heart. very deep verse you've come up with. captivating, for sure!

[ReedWrite]

Thank you very much, Adam.
I appreciate that you took time to read and comment.

[Adam Adams]

i always "take" time for... those who oft. (oh i mean... OFTEN.. xoxo) dance up & down upon and across an every furrowed string of my caramelized heart. ouch! xoxo

[ReedWrite]

LOL...thank you...that reply is poetry in itself.

[Lorry]

We all need that veneer at times, to protect us from the games that other people play with our emotions. Sometimes, we need to cut people out of our lives that are unhealthy for us. It can be painful, but required. Other times, we simply know that they will never truly know or see the real us, until they stop hiding behind their own mask first, or stop long enough to actually see the person we are beneath.
Wonderfully captured.

[ReedWrite]

Yes...you got it. You can waste a lot of time being what someone else tells you you're supposed to be...because they believe you're not okay being you. I've learned the hard way that some people will never accept you the way you are...for who you are...and no mask in the world will ever change that or make it right. You have to be true to you....accept that you are the person God meant you to be...and walk away from those who refuse to see the beauty in that creation. Thank you for reading and reviewing, Nemo...you always share thoughts that leave me smiling. :)

[ReedWrite]

Hopefully this made sense...lol. I am falling asleep at the computer. Bedtime for me I think. :)

[Lorry]

You're very welcome. Feel sorry for the haters, never hate them. :)

[Einstein Noodle]

i feel the sadness ...the loneliness ... even depression ...all the products of vain attempts to "hide" .. the irony of it all being the other side ... those looking in .. or not .. and making all those first impressions that can chain a relationship forever .. it can be like the trembling huddle of bats roosting ...in a small place .. blind and afraid yet needing the touch ... i like the way you arranged the couplets ..short long short long .. the quatrain emphasizes itself simply be being different ;)
E.

[ReedWrite]

Thank you, Einstein. I try to follow the rules of poetry, to some degree, but I also feel the emotion needs to be expressed in the visual aspect of a poem, as well as the word choices...so I experiment with ideas. I also got my start in poetry writing, from crafting songs...so sometimes that hold-over intrudes. :)

[aLittlePain]

Lovely form. We're pretty good at that aren't we...our common deception. Exhausting keeping that up though. It's a survival thing a coping thing a protection thing. We all have our reasons, and we all play the part. Never a good idea to stay there too long, you end up losing yourself. Like this a lot. R xo

[ReedWrite]

Hugs you tight. Thank you! Yes...Many days I feel this is me, even now. Since my divorce, I've tried to find the ME I kept hidden for so long...may never chance another relationship, but if I do, that person will have to know who I am behind that mask, and be okay with it. I think a lot of people find themselves in that situation. You are right. It is a survival, coping, protection thing. Thanks for the read and comment!

[Paul Bell]

The complex human being smiling at the world.
Someone once told me, no one smiles that much.
We all wear that mask to get us through the day, or even through our life.
But i suppose if it does the job, then that's fine.
And if that fails. I always play the Stones, Wild Horses.
A lot of depth to your poems, Like that.

[ReedWrite]

Thank you, Paul. I appreciate the read and review...and I love the Stones, too, lol.

[Neal S]

Lovely piece. Indeed we all put on faces or mask to hide ourselves away from others. The structure to this is nice also very easy flow. I like it!

[ReedWrite]

Thank you, Neal. It's one of my favorites. I appreciate the read and review.