My mask

Hey there! I'm here to review your work.

It's been almost two years since you wrote this poem, so I hope that things are going better for you away from the screen now. If not, don't be afraid to pop into my inbox - I'm always happy to be a listening ear.

Disclaimer aside, I found this poem more relatable than I was expecting it too. I think all poetry writers have that one poem where they talk about feeling conflicted between their online/public persona and their actual self. I remember feeling really torn last year and the year before with how my internet persona was far more cheerful than I would be feeling from time to time.

You did a great job expressing how I felt back then - especially with your desire to have someone reach behind your mask and see the real you. That metaphor actually came up a lot throughout the piece, and that was honestly one of my favorite comments that you made. It really did touch on how I felt back then.

My only critique of the work is that you can trim it down a little. As I just mentioned in the last paragraph, the mask metaphor comes up multiple times. If you ever do revise this, you might want to try rearranging the order of the stanzas so you can have a new ending and take out anything that's too repetitive. If I was revising it, I would discard the last stanza and move this one down there instead:

I need you to reach behind my mask

Be gentle, please

I may push you away

But please persist, I need you

Good day!!

Your poem most definitely reminds me of a situation I've surely been through. It hurts to pretend. It hurts to hide behind a mask to be loved, to be accepted, and to be appreciated. You've absolutely captured my attention, not only for your choice of words and the style you used in portraying your message, but also because of your capability to be realistic, to express a situation that can affect each and every single one of us.

The descriptions you've written are specific and clear and I could not say anything more but great job! Continue to express yourself and use your talent to inspire others. Thank you so much for sharing your work! I personally hope to read more of your poems!

Hope you're feeling great!

This poem sadly reminds me of myself before I was 'out' as male. It always pains me to see someone in a difficult place and I think I speak for all of us when I say, we're all here for you.
Feel free to pm me at any time!

Now, onto the poem.
I don't think I can see any errors other than those already highlighted.
It's well written and it has a really nice flow to it.

It's always good to get your feelings out and sometimes, you have to lose the mask.

A Scottish poet (Edwin Morgen) once wrote the line "laughter ringing round them, like a guard" Although this line was written about something entirely different; this poem made me think of that.

Thank you for revealing your mask.
(I really hope that everything gets better for you. Like I say, if you need a chat, don't hesitate to pm me )

Thanks for sharing this poem about the human need to be accepted for whom we really are and not for whom we might be pretending to be. It very effectively expresses that strong yearning in a very emotionally intense way. I especially liked the part where the significant other is asked to be gentle.

It reminds me of the time that this girl who admired hoodlums mistook me for one when I behaved with uncaring bravado when I was drunk. She fell in love with that image and since I didn’t want to lose her, I stupidly attempted to play the role best as I could. Eventually she found out that I was not a hoodlum and disappeared from my life as quickly as she had arrived.

After reading the poem I wondered exactly how one reaches behind such a mask or attempt at deception. I also wondered what the pain and suffering of the speaker involves. What is its cause or what are its causes? Why is the need for a mask present?

Suggestions:

lit-up
“actress” since you are female.

Apart from those two things everything else looks fine.

NOOO I KNOW THOSE FEELINGS I HATE THEM IF YOU NEED TO TALK PM ME please Chessie. Please.

Okay, love the poem by the way. Didn't see anything wrong with it and I hope things get better for you becasue I know how all of that feels and it f***ing sucks.

Overall, I loved the poem and keep up the good work! Happy Thanks- WAIT, MERRY CHRISTMAS, I CAN SAY THAT NOW! OR HAPPY HANUKA I really need to go now Grim has souls to reap and he needs more cocoa. He has a problem, seriously. Cheerio and fruit loops to you!