MASKS

MASKS

A Poem by ReedWrite
"

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.

© 2016 ReedWrite


Author's Note

ReedWrite
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?

My Review

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Featured Review

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

Posted 8 Years Ago


1 of 1 people found this review constructive.

ReedWrite

8 Years Ago

Hello, Mad Lord! I loved your comments. These words, right here, are perfect...you really got what I.. read more
Lord of mad men

8 Years Ago

It was my pleasure. You are very welcome.



Reviews

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.

Posted 4 Years Ago


'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

Posted 6 Years Ago


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

Posted 7 Years Ago


1 of 1 people found this review constructive.

ReedWrite

7 Years Ago

Thank you Genocide.
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

Posted 8 Years Ago


1 of 1 people found this review constructive.

ReedWrite

8 Years Ago

Hello, Mad Lord! I loved your comments. These words, right here, are perfect...you really got what I.. read more
Lord of mad men

8 Years Ago

It was my pleasure. You are very welcome.
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


Posted 8 Years Ago


1 of 1 people found this review constructive.

ReedWrite

8 Years Ago

LOL...where do I begin to respond, Phoenix? You GET it! You truly GET what I'm saying. Others feel .. read more
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

Posted 8 Years Ago


1 of 1 people found this review constructive.

ReedWrite

8 Years Ago

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

8 Years Ago

Was my pleasure and you are welcome.
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

Posted 8 Years Ago


1 of 1 people found this review constructive.

ReedWrite

8 Years Ago

Yes, masks can be both good and evil...they provide protection and allow us to mask our true feeling.. read more
Vria P Crow

8 Years Ago

I agree with everything you say. It takes a long time before we are able to remove all the masks. .. read more
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

Posted 8 Years Ago


1 of 1 people found this review constructive.

ReedWrite

8 Years Ago

Yes...I think all human beings are fragile, and we protect our inner selves with our masks. Thank yo.. read more
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."


Posted 8 Years Ago


1 of 1 people found this review constructive.

ReedWrite

8 Years Ago

Thank you, Nemo for taking the time to read and comment. You nailed it on the head with your words, .. read more
Lorry

8 Years Ago

You're very welcome. :)
True words. Though a mask can be good at times many wear it for bad reasons and it just destroys them. Good write. Tyfs!

Posted 8 Years Ago


1 of 1 people found this review constructive.

ReedWrite

8 Years Ago

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

8 Years Ago

You're most welcome. :)

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936 Views
15 Reviews
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Added on September 28, 2016
Last Updated on November 3, 2016
Tags: poem, masks, perception, beauty, facades, dreams, thoughts, perspective

Author

ReedWrite
ReedWrite

Omaha, NE



About
After a decade trapped by distractions, I'm pursuing my passion once again. I come from a military background...a Navy brat...and my father (now deceased) and brother, are both published writers...so .. more..

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