Mask

Narcissist or psychopath, they play the same game

I get you now !

You have no real smile

Just  hundreds of variations of...

 facial expressions

tones of voice

hand gestures

and right things to say

Stories to impress men

Words to captivate women

Threats to coerce employees

Lies to deceive everyone

Various identities 

to keep your life in boxes

So your lies won't overlap

Six cell phones with different numbers

Seven email addresses 

At least 4 different companies 

That's as far as I know

Maybe there are more...

Various online dating profiles 

A computer program to scan for prey...

Empaths

Codependents

HIghly Sensitives

Romantics

The innocent

The abused

The naive

And the lonely

The young ones

The old ones

And anyone in between

The poets 

The artists

And the ones who want to save you

You show a vulnerable side

That is nothing but an act

You make them feel your pain

But you are mirroring theirs back

You show them some compassion

From scripts inside your head

You repeat their own words back

That they forgot that they said

They think you are for real

A man that they could care for

Someone who needs attention

And maybe mothering too

They know if they invest their time

Your love for them will be true

You train them all so well

To jump when you ring the bell...

Like Pavlov and his dog

Waiting for the food

You create a real addiction

Then make them beg for more

You let them paint the illusion

A dream from inside their mind

Exactly the way they picture it

A different mask for every crime

You become their favorite fantasy

Be anyone they want you to be

You lift them as high as you can

Upon your pedestal of gold

The higher you can lift them up

The farther they have to fall

And fall they will ...

Make no mistake

 They won't see it coming

Your skill has such grace...

You'll come up behind them

Contempt on your face

You'll yank out that stool

And cover all traces

That you ever planned it 

Or could hardly stand it

To play the role of vulnerable and weak

Now you are TOWERING 

Over your catch

Pour on the gasoline

And light up your match

Burning their hopefulness

And reasons for living

Corrupting their soul

Transfusing your sinning

You think...

"You thought you were winning?"

Ha!

Your face slowly changes

The expression is dark

She feels like she saw it once

In one of your glances

But it passed all too quickly 

And you covered with romances

She tries to beg forgiveness

As you tell her what she's done

You project all of your sins

And she wants to give in

And confess to the crimes

You committed

But before she can speak

Your image just blackens

Becoming no more than a shadow in her mind

The terror in her nightmares

For so many nights to come

As she lies all alone filled with dread

She thought you were real

And that you could feel

Like the other men she had once known

But you wore a mask 

That she helped you to cast

As you once hung on her every word

And now there's another 

Just waiting to instruct you

To create a new mask in every detail...

As you listen intently

The details are mentally filed

Your plan is being formed as you fashion a smile

She thinks you're so sweet

And is utterly amazed

At how you share all her hopes 

And admire her dreams

As you hold up the mirror

And show her herself

It is a match made in heaven for sure

She wonders how she found someone

She has so much in common with

Someone who feels just the same

As you study her strength

And look for the cracks 

You will shove your knife through

All too soon

A brand new mask has been forged

For the new prey to love

And sacrifice all that she has for

You suck all her blood 

And you take all she has

With the promise that all will be repaid

You will buy her that house

With the white picket fence

That she carries the picture of

In the pocket of her dress

But she does not see

That you were a different person to me

And will make another mask

When you are done with this task

It's all such a chore but you've done it before

One mask for each girl 

Let the games begin to twirl

They all end the same in the end

Reviews

[Coyote Poetry]

A very nice journey into your words.
"One mask for each girl
Let the games begin to twirl
They all end the same in the end"
I liked the way you led to the good ending. Thank you for sharing the excellent poetry.
Coyote

[gentlekindness]

Thank you, John. Always good to hear from you💕🌷
Annie

[Coyote Poetry]

A pleasure to read your words and thoughts my friend.

[Mister T.]

The reality as it is, the reality at its hardest..
This indeed was a long one, which doesn't have to be a bad thing in my opinion. You managed to keep my attention while reading, good job on that. The advantage of such a long piece is that the message you're trying to transfer to the reader is very well-described. I can really relate to what you mean: I've seen it myself, I see it everywhere nowadays. This makes up for an even bigger challenge to find the love of your life. But life is not enjoyable without any kind of challenge, isn't it? It only makes you stronger after all. Stick to your senses and listen to your heart, only your heart knows the truth. The brain, and therefore the eyes, are easy to fool.
Anyway, very nice poem! I really enjoyed reading it!

[JaneFoxscale]

Sad but true. I usually can't get through the longer ones, but this one I really enjoyed!

[gentlekindness]

Thank you for reading and taking the time to comment 💕💃

[Iris]

I have to say, with such a long poem, it's hard to maintain that delicate balance between quality and quantity but you managed it beautifully. The message of your poem is sad but true; the descriptions are impeccable. There is one change I'd like to suggest you make:
Instead of saying,
"That they forgot that they said"
It wold seem better to say,
"That they forgot they once said"
or
"That they forgot they had said"
Very good work, Annie. I look forward to more of your work.

[gentlekindness]

Thank you for your kind words and for reading my poetry.
I do agree that those two sentences need to be edited. I was struggling with that part and I was getting tired so I left it.
Sometimes if I come back to it later, I can see it with a better perspective. I will go back to it now

I appreciate your taking the time to review my work.
Blessings,
Annie

[Iris]

You're most welcome.

[Rocksie]

I like your reference to Pavlov. I also liked how each girl needs a new mask. It shows that creating a mask needs some understanding of what another wishes to see in the mask. Everyone masks themselves sometimes, but even then they are conditioned to present a certain image through it. And what does all this accomplish? Nothing but heartbreak.
Also, I enjoyed reading it through, then being able to go back and read just the bolded parts and see how nicely they fit together. Nice write.

[gentlekindness]

If you study narcissists and psycopaths you learn that they do accomplish their own ends through this process. It is the art of being able to access the emotions of the prey and to be able to put on a mask that the victim falls for, that gives them a feeling of power.
They take what they want and train the victim to be at their beck and call. They isolate them from their friends, then slowly break down their independence and ability to funtion independently.

Then they leave with no conversation, no explanation, no breakup and no closure....leaving the victim unsure if they have been left or broken up with.....suspended in limbo and confusion....unable to move on.

The psychopathic narcissist feels powerful that they know the victim cannot let go and move on. While the abuser had already targeted and began sculpting their next victim long before they left you.

It is the typical pattern on the ones with no empathy, no remorse, who exploit others for gain and sadistic pleasure.

If you have never been targeted you probably have good boundaries and a strong sense of self. You should be safe as long as you hold your sense of reality and see things for what they are.

Blessings,
Annie💕💙

[PhoenixDown]

I sadly see this more often than I see a healthy, working relationship. A genuine reality, a true horror.. But it is the horrors that should be revealed.

My heart goes out to the ones who tried. I don't like it when someone wastes someone else's time, intentionally or not.

Really good job. This will resonate with me and will be a piece I come back to and share with others. Keep it up.

[gentlekindness]

Thank you for your thoughtful comments. I am so glad you liked this poem.
Wishing you peace,
Annie

[Faith]

Oh how you so perfectly describe the ugly in so many people. I believe we have all encountered this person and have a story like this to tell. Nicely done.

[gentlekindness]

Some have gotten closer than others. Everyone has interacted with a psychpath in some way. They may have been very charming to you, and then took that woman you saw them with and treated her completely different at home. He appeared nice to her....overly attentive....a perfect boyfriend..

[Faith]

Exactly, you just never know.

[alifeacoustic]

Sadly, there are too many of these masked people out there, with all the subtlety and charm you speak of, living life for them and treating others as ornaments, commodities or worse, without a care or thought for the feelings of those left in their wake. And when they move on, it is only to new ground, the story remains the same, for the most part, to help keep them on track of their deceit. If there is such a thing as a soul, they were obviously rolled through that part of the assembly line too quickly to get theirs.
Wonderfully stated and beautifully penned.

[gentlekindness]

Thank for sharing your perspective. I think many people run into a psychopath from time to time, but if they are not a specific target they never even realize who the person was they interacted with.
The targets only realize it when it is too late...unless they have been through it before and did a lot of studying anout narcissists, psychopaths, their traits and what to look for as a red flag.
Even then...they can be so charming you might miss the red flags that were right in front of you...until it is too late.

Thank you for reading,
Annie 💕💃💃🌷