MASKS

Everyone wears one...don't you think?

Everyone wears a mask,

     Some more elaborate than others.

Façades that hide thoughts and feelings,

       Distort acuities and dreams.

 

We begin fashioning our mask

     When we’re too young to understand,

That once complete and donned,

     It becomes our reality.

 

Masks change perception, discoloring the world,

     Absorbing bias and vanity like a sponge.

We see and process through programmed eye holes,

     And shove a once benevolent world, into a stark little box.

 

Everyone wears a mask,

     Some more inflexible than others.

Behind that mask we sit and judge

   Without perspective or mercy.

 

A mask makes it easy to disengage,

     To withdraw and feel nothing but disdain.

We see atrocities and rationalize them,

     Until they fit nicely into our conscience.

 

Masks scrutinize the world from untouched, frozen beauty,

        Yet behind that concealment we warp and change.

 Until our once innocent visage becomes a monstrous caricature,

         No longer recognizable. No longer human. No longer Devine.

Author's Note

Not everyone's view, I'm sure...just thoughts. It seems we (humans), tend to form opinions about how others should look, feel, act, think, live...and when someone steps outside that tight, narrow box, it's unacceptable. We rationalize recrimination, justify it, and spew it as God's Will...because we all know what God thinks and feels and wants from us, right?

Reviews

[Lord of mad men]

I love this very much and it is all very true. We all do where them but we all can tell some one is wearing one but we choose not to see it. Masks are easy to make and wear but they ate hard to remove and you can fool your self to think that its not a mask its you. You may even forget what you really are and some masks are put on us by others and we just accept it. Very few we let peek under our masks and few we take off our masks for. We keep them on so long at time we think that is who we are. Some wish to become there masks others feel like they need theirs. This is a very great peice and speaks truth. I really enjoyed the read. Yours truely a mad lord

[ReedWrite]

Hello, Mad Lord! I loved your comments. These words, right here, are perfect...you really got what I was trying to say with the poem: You may even forget what you really are and some masks are put on us by others and we just accept it. Very few we let peek under our masks and few we take off our masks for. We keep them on so long at time we think that is who we are.

Thank you so much for taking time to read and comment.

[Lord of mad men]

It was my pleasure. You are very welcome.

[Ted Kniffen]

Just stumbled on this one RW. What you have written so brilliantly is very true. We develop our masks early
and continue to add to them until we are comfortable with the face we present as our own.
The capitalization of Divine at the end could refer to the true master of the mask ...

Well done.

[Kathy Van Kurin]

'MASKS'
ReedWrite,
Good point. I think the act of covering ourselves with anything but who and what we are is just how we cope with things when it is not safe to be transparent. A mask can even be directed inwardly at oneself. The desire to please others is a scary thing because it is like lieing to ourselves. Anyway this poem of yours was very intuitive and had to of taken a lot of thought and honest portrayal of life within this human framework of ours. Thank you for a great one!
Blessings,
Kathy

[genocide]

very good very well written we all wear masks in this life and in the next

[ReedWrite]

Thank you Genocide.

[PhoenixDown]

Façades that hide thoughts and feelings,
Distort acuities and dreams.
^great words & lines

We begin fashioning our mask
When we’re too young to understand,
That once complete and donned,
It becomes our reality.
^my god - the reality behind this. Talk about speaking volumes...

Masks change perception, discoloring the world,
^yes, yes, yes.

Behind that mask we sit and judge
Without perspective or mercy.
^the imagery here is f'ing incredible.

Until they fit nicely into our conscience.
^wonderful line. Very well-put. Your understanding & grasp on great concepts seems truly remarkable, if I may say. The way you "see" -- if you will.

Until our once innocent visage becomes a monstrous caricature,
^more freaking incredible imagery & visuals.

Everyone wears masks
^the heavy, strange truth left over, once all the rest you've gone over is understood. Ave Maria...

This is a very satisfying read. Apologies for the way I commented this time. I am trying out different setups & structures. Also thought it might help with feedback. Really great job ReedWrite.

Love the note this ends on as well. A cautionary tale, incredibly told.

Phoenix

[ReedWrite]

LOL...where do I begin to respond, Phoenix? You GET it! You truly GET what I'm saying. Others feel it...some see into parts of it...but I think you truly GET what I'm saying, but not really saying...if that makes sense. Thank you for that. If I never have another review comment...this one just touched something deep that makes it all worthwhile. BTW...on other forums...my handle is Phoenixrose...lol...because that is my tat. A phoenix rising from the ashes with three roses in his beak. Thank you for your comments here...one phx to another...it was the highlight of my day...week...month! :)

[Coyote Poetry]

You are right. All of us wear a mask. Rarely took off and few will see true face.
"A mask makes it easy to disengage,
To withdraw and feel nothing but disdain.
We see atrocities and rationalize them,
Until they fit nicely into our conscience."
The above lines. Realistic and sad view we accept with a shallow heart. Thank you for sharing the excellent poetry.
Coyote

[ReedWrite]

Thank you, Coyote. I appreciate your words, and that you took time to read and review.

[Coyote Poetry]

Was my pleasure and you are welcome.

[Vria P Crow]

CONTENT AND FORMAT

Society has a certain criteria for what its people should be; it is the deconstruction of our appearance, mind, education, vocation, and social lives. We are often shaped by our family since they set up core values and beliefs. These often change as we age in an act of rebellion until we discover our identity. Until then, we wear a plethora of "masks" before self awareness occurs. Facades also protect us from scrutiny. For instance, I admit I have given false smiles in the presence of someone I was not fond of in the work place. Uniforms are another form of a "mask" to enforce unity rather than individuality to produce peace. Frankly, I prefer individuality because we are different but I also understand our similarities. We all have experienced poignant emotions nor are we alone.

"Perception" varies from each person. We create masks for others and ourselves that it is easy to get lost in delusion. Over time, these illusions become welded to our psyche.

CONCLUSION

Overall, I perceive masks to be used for "good" and "evil." Ironically, I am rather theatrical so I am literally wearing a raven mask in the profile picture. On sites like this we even use pen names to protect us from trolls. There are methods of being honest and smart. Thank you for sharing!

sincerely,
ria

[ReedWrite]

Yes, masks can be both good and evil...they provide protection and allow us to mask our true feelings...they also allow us to "look" respectable, when in fact the person behind the mask is a monster. One might also argue, that wearing that mask in itself, is a lie, regardless of why we wear it. As someone who has worn a mask for my entire life...from my earliest childhood memories of wanting to conform and please...I feel like it becomes a part of us. It warps and changes the person in so many ways. Even when we consciously try to remove that mask...we can't take it off completely. We have become, in the eyes of all who know us, whatever we allowed the mask to portray. It has become an unconscious defense mechanism. And behind that mask we can judge others, think our uncharitable thoughts, let our rage boil uncontrolled, manipulate our thoughts...whatever...it doesn't matter. Because the mask we show others is beautiful. Pure. Appropriate. Of course, it's never good to deal in generalities...this poem was just my musing on the topic, based on my experiences of people who show that Christian, 'I'm a pillar of society, mask to the world, but tear others down with gossip and lies and back-biting. Thank you Ria for sharing your thoughts, and for taking the time to read and comment.

[Vria P Crow]

I agree with everything you say. It takes a long time before we are able to remove all the masks. And thank you so much for your in depth comment. :)

[D Connolly]

I remember putting that mask on, never quite fitting in, and REALLY wanting to. I look back, now that I've done my best to chip it off piece by piece, and I see how that mask changed me and kept me from experiencing life as, maybe "I should have"? You describe this so well.
I love the last part "masks scrutinize the world from untouched frozen beauty, yet behind that concealment we warp and change" so nicely put.
It makes me think of how beautiful a human is. Such a temporary, fallible, tender thing to be

[ReedWrite]

Yes...I think all human beings are fragile, and we protect our inner selves with our masks. Thank you so much for taking the time to read and comment, D. :)

[Lorry]

We do, sadly. The line "through programmed eyeholes" sums up the feeling perfectly. Wear those masks from a younger and younger age these days, trying to fit a square through a round peg it was never intended for. And for what, to be accepted or rejected by other mask wearers, feeling less and less and conforming to never being unique, which if I remember correctly, used to be a positive.
Some beautiful and thought provoking lines here, none more so than your last, "No longer recognizable. No longer human. No longer Devine."

[ReedWrite]

Thank you, Nemo for taking the time to read and comment. You nailed it on the head with your words, "And for what, to be accepted or rejected by other mask wearers...". A profound statement in and of itself.

[Lorry]

You're very welcome. :)

[Cyprian Van Dyke]

True words. Though a mask can be good at times many wear it for bad reasons and it just destroys them. Good write. Tyfs!

[ReedWrite]

Thank you Cyprian for taking time to read and drop a comment. Appreciate it very much.

[Cyprian Van Dyke]

You're most welcome. :)