What is this mask I'm forced to wear
to shroud my loneliness and despair?
This mask to cover my thoughts.
My emotions, not really there.
...
This mask, a beaming, welcoming grin
that hides all the depression that resides within.
The obscurity of my yearnings, my wants.
I live by one rule: disclosing them would be a sin.
...
I took this mask, thinking it was imposition,
but all it carried was demolition.
People are worried. They ask if I'm okay. Their questions build up into a clot.
I shove the mask on, lacking intuition.
...
This mask pulls my cheekbones up in a laborious way.
I blink back the tears that strive to escape.
Is my life an illusion, if there is no liveliness in it at all?
Or is it an endless war to keep my emotions at bay?
...
How much more of this mask-wearing can I endure?
What is the point if there's no cure?
If I plaster on an artificial smile once more, I might break.
I cannot stay this way, of that, I'm sure.
...
But I am afraid. No. Terrified.
Of what would be revealed. Of what truly lurks inside.
What if the tears and the feelings burn more
than the times when I put them aside?
...
Yet, this mask, am I really forced to wear?
Can I actually confront my old friend, despair?
What would happen if I unveil my thoughts,
if I say what is truthfully there?
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140,083 Literary Works • 672,994 Reviews
Hello, hello, hello! I am back again! Let’s not waste any time and let’s jump right into this review.
Wow, this was very pretty to read. I find that the tone is incredibly mature, feels like it was written by someone much older. Your vocabulary is beautiful as well. Your ability to rhyme was impeccable. I really did enjoy the rhymes scheme in this one, which is something I think he did very well, especially given what you’re talking about and being able to maintain a consistent tone throughout the entire piece.
in this poem, you talk about masks. Masks are often used in poetry a lot actually. You speak of this mask being something that you hide behind, that covers your true emotions, feelings, and intentions. the mask stuck in a constant grin, never showing your true character to anyone. I do love this metaphor, it makes me feel like I’m in a play or something very dramatic.
I would have to say that my favorite part of this poem was the last two stanzas:
I love the breakdown that we see here. Previously, we have more full sentences, but here we finally start to see them break down a little bit with more periods in between the words. I think this really represents how you feel, feeling out like you cannot endure anymore of this mask wearing. That sounds really exhausting. It seems like perhaps you’re hiding behind this mask because you’re scared to confront someone in your life, perhaps an old friend or someone who hurt you. I would love to see you touch on this even more, because it seems like we kind of only mentioned this a little bit at the end. The rhyme between the word despair, it really does feel like downward spiral of emotions at the end.
Overall lovely poem, friend! Keep on writing and have a fantastic day!
Thank uuuuu <333333 Your reviews are always so wonderful!
This poem is very good, wearing a mask is something a lot of people can relate too, I know I can. the question of "what if the tears and the feelings burn more than the times when I put them aside?" is very good and true. during that part it seems as if the person starts questioning of what would happen if they were to get help and wondering if they could really continue on with wearing the mask. during the begging part where it says "people are worried. They ask if I'm okay. Their questions build up into a clout." is very true because even when people ask if your okay because they can see that the mask is starting to slip you still resist help and say that you are okay. well done!
Excellent poem! I'm not very good at talkin about poetry, but let's do it anyway. I love how there is always talk about masks and why we hide behind them. This is a good topic and you have handled it well. It's very fluid and a good read, and the pace is even (not everyone can do that, so you have my respect). I like that each verse has its own meaning, we can't take anything out of the poem, nothing is extra. It all adds up to a great job.
Hello! I hope you are well.
I'll go right into the review.
First things first, I loved how the entire poem is so perfect, and the flow is smooth. I didn't even blink once until I finished reading your poem. It's ironic how the mask saves you as well as slowly exhausts and kills you the more you use it and that you have no other option but to keep using it.
The lines,
That just shows how you're compelled to wear it whether you like it or not and that you'd rather put up with the unsettling mask than face the consequences if you speak out what you really feel, and this emotion is STRONG and you expressed it so perfectly.
Also these lines,
Wow. I have no words enough to tell you how surprisingly true these these lines are. We are too busy caring about others that we've completely forgotten about how our feelings could get amplified under the pressure too. I was awed when I read these lines again and again.
The entire poem hit me with reality and it made me realize once again that it (this poem) is exactly what it is and wow. I so loved this poem!
Thank youuuu! <333
I Love the line "This mask, a beaming, welcoming grin" really emphasizes that underneath the mask is anything but. This work really delves into thoughts and emotions of someone who does not diclose either of them. and the line "But I am afraid. No. Terrified." is soo powerful! You did a great job and i LOVE this poem!