Headless Hoodie

If I hide my face from you,

I hide your face from me,

Protection with a price tag:

Loveless anonymity.

 

A hood for all occasions,

Casting shadows day or night,

Erasing my existence,

Suffocating life and light.

 

If no one knows my name, my face,

My failures pass unseen.

If blinded to life's beast and beauty,

What purpose have I been?

 

Reviews

[Michelle N. H.]

Matt, this is incredible! :) It's easy to hide away, to set up barriers and let into your fears, whereas it takes a tremendous amount of courage demolishing your walls and allow yourself to be completely bare, as it positions you in a frail state where it's much easier to get hurt. Living behind a mask is not to live at all. Your title for this piece of poetry is perfect.

[Matt Sayer]

Thank you so much Michelle! It is difficult to relinquish our defenses and expose our vulnerabilities, but to not do so is to suffocate what it is to be human. Life can burn us, sure, but its warmth is worth the risk. :)

[Michelle N. H.]

I just love your thinking, and I do agree.

[Raymond Federle]

Awesome piece. Fast, lyrical and rhythm that's on topic. added to favs. Excellent!

[Matt Sayer]

Thanks Raymond! :)

[Bob Sherunkle]

That was fantastic Matt. Damn good write!

[Matt Sayer]

Thanks Bob! :)

[Avoiry]

We have to fail to know true success and taking chances is never easy. A hoodie was a good choice for the concept. Nice piece , flows well.

[Matt Sayer]

Thank you very much Lindsey :)

[love, lorey]

As usual Matt, I love this. Gorgeous flow and impeccable word choice. This makes me want to lose all my masks. But as we discussed before... who would I be?

You have such awesome talent!

[Matt Sayer]

Gosh, such lovely praise! Thank you so much Lorey! We have to apply our masks judiciously; protection and perception in a delicate equilibrium. :)

[love, lorey]

Brilliantly and Beautifully put sir :)

[Justine]

I think this might be my favorite from you so far Matt. It's simply perfect. I love the title, the irony made me smile. I dont think I have ever met anyone who doesn't wear a hood or a mask or a paper bag at some stage in their lives. Great writing. Justine

[Matt Sayer]

Thank you so much Justine! As always, your warm words bring a smile to my face :)

[Lyn Anderson]

Interesting. Societal anonymity, our outward persona we present to the world. The irony is, of course, I am more me in here than anywhere, but I hide behind a pseudonym and a photo of my cat!

[Matt Sayer]

We all wear veils; it is our nature to protect ourselves from potential harm. But whether our veils are closer to transparency or opacity is what affects our life experience. Thank you for the review KL :)

[Daniel Sala]

What a lovely way to define the masks we all/some of us wear as protective hard hats through fear of proximity, if this is the meaning of the piece. Two great lines, amongst several others: "If I hide my face from you, I hide your face from me,", or "If blinded to life's beast and beauty, What purpose have I been?"
Food for thought in a poem that flows nicely.

[Matt Sayer]

Thank you so much Daniel! That is indeed the message I was intending--that we sacrifice life by protecting ourselves from it.

[Daniel Sala]

Thank you, Matt, and indeed how true.

[Nutella Wolf [Alias: S..]

Great poem :) I love the rhythm and way you expressed your words.

[Matt Sayer]

Thank you very much! :)

[Neville]

Read it, liked it, got the tee shirt, never had a hoodie... Good stuff going on here. all Good Things, N

[Matt Sayer]

Thanks Neville! :)