It’s so simple yet so complicated
the mask that covers my face
can no longer protect me

My identity escapes into daylight
my nakedness is exposed
the more I try to hide
the more everyone knows

I am without my shield
flesh and bones humanity,
mere mortal exposed

Naked born and I die
naked ashamed,
exposed
Caramel Queen©

on a pedestal your shrine
though only a man
saw him mirror my decline
seeing myself for what i am

accelerated years leaving me in the dust
taking bits and pieces throughout time
leaving me in utter disgust
an acute awareness of indifferent crimes

is there something left within us
to aid others cease the fight
formulating life with less stress
or help make wrongs right?

pledging to make a difference and standout
what it is only time can trace?
or just waiting for the handout
stripped of worth, leaving no face

acceptance of differences in man
this comes in countless forms
derived without a plan
bringing out internal storms

cease these insipid cycles of lies
twisting and turning strands of demise
leave you must with no goodbyes
you can't hide in any disguise
MiNN©

Exposed
Bitten with fear
Ever have that dream?
Where you feel naked
Alone
Craving for anonymity
Knowing your deepest shame
Is visible for all
Never in this dream
Do you ever feel
The love
Only the jeers
Mocking laughter
Maybe
If we could control our dreams
We could stand up
Face the void
Scream defiance
The love would show
When the fear departed
It's there
Surrounded by it
But masks
Sometimes hide more
Than truth
scrivington© 

Oh retched night
wash away the sin of the world
corrupted morals justified with social acceptance
Name me not Pride
cast away all desire to be god of my realm
walk me naked
so that I may not hide
Extinguish my illusions of need
simplify my existence
leaving me to exit as I came
Unblindfold me, strip apathy from my veins
Seek me good, beauty, truth,
and love in its purity
Fast away anger, oil me,
let it bead off
Crouched in humility
so that I may know myself.
Emerald© 

This pedestal once a shrine for your honor
it stood high above the rest of the world
but now I sit here completely alone, vulnerable
hiding tears, wondering what went wrong.

Do I have any honor now that yours is gone
the world was yours for the taking and you did
but now does it matter as I sit completely alone
hiding tears, wondering what went wrong.

A man of stature wearing a mask by day
solid and cold to the emotions and pain
at night the coldness slips away
helplessly lost without you in my arms.

I want to break down but I mask my hurt
the pain inside seems more than I can bear
sitting on this pedestal with my broken heart
helplessly lost without you in my arms.

Mornings and evenings have taken a gloom
no longer is there a reason to smile
on the day that you left me completely alone
nothing but sadness has since filled my world.

Gloom has taken over, how can I go on
a smile only comes from wearing the mask
alone and empty you've left my heart
nothing but sadness has since filled my world.

Each day I wait and hope for your return
your pedestal still stands above all
it may be a little lower and closer to earth
only to rise higher with the return of your love.

Until that day I'll sit alone and wait
on your pedestal where I'll mask the tears
brought down to earth when you left me
only to rise higher with the return of your love.
Daisy© 

Fortune he sought,
Fortune he got,
He cheated, he stole, & he lied.
Money collected,
Family neglected,
Pennies he pinched 'til they cried.

Coveted fame,
Made him a name,
Without mercy climbed over backs.
Accepted no blame,
Made promises lame,
Few survived his attacks.

But love evaded,
Happiness faded,
As in selfish glory he basked.
'Til in this place,
The Master he faced,
And found himself naked, unmasked.
Theophilus© 

A mask for reason, and one to forget,
to cover our feelings, or thoughts of regret.
A mask for happiness and one for pain,
for when the sun shines, or when it rains.

A mask for anger and one for doubt,
to hide the rage, and what it's about.
A mask for sincerity, and one of grace,
for a lack of honesty, or an accusing face.

A mask for integrity, or one to explain,
to cover confusion, or ignorance's shame.
A mask for indifference, or one of love,
to hide the hate, or a gift from above.

A mask for deception, to cover what's true,
a deception for me, a relief for you.
We all have our masks to use in their times,
for hurting or healing, it's all in our minds.
ROM©

within this world of good and bad
there lies a crescent yellow moon
the sky is that of burnt red orange
with and undertone of doom

within this world we wear a mask
that is so white and very cold
we never smile we never laugh
we just do what we are told

tired of this torment
of this never ending life
of this pain of this doom
of this agony and strife

fleeing from the terror
from the painful memories
I start to climb to the top
of a pedestal I've never seen

looking over darken valleys
over lakes and soulless streams
ghostly voices echo
in painful lonely screams

peeling off my ice cold mask
of sadden tears and doom
I take a look around again
from my pedestal where I loom

cold and numb to all
I crouch up in a ball
looking through my nervous knees
hoping not to fall

is there hope within this world
that light may shine again
for now I know we all wear mask
to shield us from the end

be it good or be it bad
I leave my mask behind
to start a life, begin again
to something much more kind
Xero©

Up high on a column of marble etched stone.
With no one around me feeling all alone.
As I ponder of today's society.

I feel naked striped of my honor.
I feel abandon of humanities ways.
I feel alone casted from others.
Just leave me alone here today.

I am curled while I sit awaiting a chance.
To say my peace as I make my stance,
against those of deceitful abilities.

I am blameless for what I've become.
I am guilty of innocence I plea.
I am accused of purity undone.
I just want to be alone, just me.

Still abandoned unnoticed locked in a cage.
I am angered of rejection with such rage,
My identity is currently on hold.

Do I need to ask for Identity.
Do I need to follow your ways.
Do I need a shot of reality.
I believe I'm the victim today.
So here I am with my hand extended.
With a mask that sadly closely resembles.
A face which society controls.

If I take a chance and try to be me.
Would you except my ways and just let me be,
No more will I be labeled as Faceless.
T.A.S.(poeticer)©

I cannot go on 
I have lost you.. 
All was for naught 
All was my fault for my true feelings I hid behind this 
mask of indifference. 
My heart cries out in sorrow.. 
If only I had given you the me that you desired 
If only I had laid aside this facade.. 
If only.......... 
Carrie©

Senses numbed by years of imbalance 
Strained against time and emotional instability 
Leaning and heaving, feeling the loss 
The abandonment that has prevailed forever

Feelings no longer tangible 
Cloaked in gloom and sadness 
When does it rise up, feeling it is near 
Take me away to the nothingness I deserve

Heavy heart, emotionless 
Cold, hard, contriving to control, 
Blocked from all entries, feeling it is just a ruse 
Quick take away the little that remains

Needing more I bow before this sacred world 
Implore that I be shown what I have missed
Do I change that which is misunderstood 
Is there feeling and sense behind some hidden branch

Yet again the path is filled with darkness 
And disappears behind the gate 
And I know again that I shall not enter
For I have yet to understand its meaning.
X-Deception-X

Under the spells of the crescent moon
As I sit on the foundation of our friendship
with knowledge that your true emotions
cement its very column,
I expose myself
remove the perceptual mask the world
has bestowed upon me
for all to see
I no longer am strong,
am I my friend
I lean my head forward allowing its weight
to tilt my very smile...
I have done wrong
I haven't been the person,
I always intended to be
when I reached out,
before me...
some things were not there,
as I thought they would be...
they withered and died
as dried flowers that fall upon the closed doors of past friendships
and as if one needs to add insult to injury..
those flowers are glued now
along the edges of the very wreaths..
we come to admire...
so seasonally
knocking on the door doesn't seem to be a option not now,
as my stance across our foundation becomes defined
my muscles tighten,
I draw myself in close...
as if I could provide my own comfort
in times of such change...
like snow across the fields of spent crops...
covering
what was left as if...
one could freeze a period of their life ...
return to it as need be
but do I need to go back...
exposing those mistakes of my yesterdays
maybe time will take this perceptual mask so my hands will be free
and if my hands were free...
I would pray...
I would pray that tomorrow
would come and with it...
the butterflies would dance...
the little girls would giggle.
..and little boys would wonder...
why those little girls do like to giggle..
I would pray for flowers...so perceptually seasoned
bright pink..pretty blues...all those things, so true to you..
Nookiss©

Another working day has ended, hence the rising moon
Another sun has come and gone and gone all too soon.
Why I hide in anguish, I am no longer in mother's womb?
Why I dread what can't be changed, useless I presume?
World twisted and confused, mine shaped as I have hewn
Cut from sights, sounds and deeds as I filled life's balloon.
Maturity's mask sings a mocking sonant, his familiar tune
As I sit and pray and ponder should I send him to his doom?
Relax, release, return to an existence I can at last exhume
But tomorrow will be today tomorrow, I won't clear this dune.
For to have changed my path in life, I'd waited 'til life's noon?
No, tomorrow will usher in another act of life's sad cocoon.
Jerry L. Helbig©

The mask which he wore
To cover his lies,
To make him something he wasn't,
Was only a disguise.

He filled her heart
With so many fake truths,
She believed all he said,
As he set his tongue loose.

Now, stripped of his armor,
Dignity, lost and gone,
He realizes his loss,
As he sits barren and alone.

Caught up in fantasy's sea,
With no intentions of love true,
He lost not only his own heart,
But the beauty of her, too.

The mask which he wore
Caused him much pain.
"Why, oh why," he will forever wonder,
"Did I play such a foolish game?"

The lesson to be learned,
Taught a bit too late,
The mask one chooses to wear,
Can often times determine one's fate.
angelqueen©

In the clay of confusion
you can't set in motion
spit out the poison
rebirth on collision
inner directed
roar your shame away.
In the pressure of changing
get rid of your loathing
new day is greeting
chaotic mounting
stand on your feet
be proud of it
rebirth on conflict.
__Forbidden_©

Above the world here I do sit
Unable to move, my thoughts won't quit
Reflecting on my history
While the future remains a mystery

Now here I sit, all alone
Contemplating what life has thrown
I've followed a path that cannot change
For history won't be rearranged

Mistakes were made along the way
They cannot be erased today
Unable to change what was done
I bowed my head from the shame that won

The mask I hold contains the soul
The part of my life that someone stole
I cannot put the piece back together
For it's missing from my life forever

So while I want to start life anew
I'm unwilling to make my grand debut
For I know I will stumble once again
I'm just human, as I have always been
Heidi©

I look in the mirror
and what do I see
a faceless person
peering back at Me.

Parents teaching
right from wrong.
Church pounding in My head
Practice not preach the Golden Rule.

The main game of life today
Keeping up with the "Jones"
in each and every way.
Carbon copy cloning....
No private thoughts ...dreams...desires.

What about the Child Within
Does she not have a voice
Does she not have a name
Let's shake hands with Her private Soul.
Lost within Humanity desires and goals.

Think not upon thy own private thoughts
To thy own self be not true
Going ONLY with the flow
Where EVER it may go.
Loosing individuality....the reason for life.

Wheels ....wheels going round
endless circles never touching ground.
Spinning yarns with in one spot
Eeenie.....mineee....moooo
Short straw picked.....to bad You lost...You must go.

WAKE UP ....silly One
Please ....please before too late.
Rise Up above all and travel the road
tried and true ..... destine for You.

Listen to the inner voice My child
for that IS the REAL You.
Rise up upon Your pedestal of Life
Nurture the seeds of wisdom that were planted.
For You are the Youth .....Mother Earth's golden treasures.
LongLeggedTxN© 

I was an Are but now I am a Not
just another fleeting thought
Passing through my mind 
wandering through this maze of mine

once upon a time I knew the way out
then I ran into a doubt
lightly whispering at first
growing louder with every spoken verse

you are a Not, not an Are
you are way to far
from the truth
what you have is to much youth

to think you thought that you knew
what to be and do
your lost in confusion
your life is nothing more than an illusion

everything I once thought is wrong
believed for so long
my faith is drained
there is only my self to be blamed

somewhere in this desecrated ground
my soul was found
dark as night
yet it was my only light

so we stood there side by side
and then we lied
said it was okay
merely to fight this battle another day
Insanity_The_Cow©

Naked, how deeply can I reflect
Within this self who's alone from neglect?
Somehow within, I think I've lost face
For what and how I can never retrace.

Too much perhaps, myself I contemplate
The past, the future, and my singular fate.
Is this my being on lone pedestal set
To be my own object and my own lone regret?

Through layers of memories deeply I review
The old, the older, and even the new.
I am, therefore I am, but what
Am I to do with my life, or the life that I've got.

A trace of moon stands up in the sky
And rivers to places wave lazily by.
I sit and I sit and never get any place.
I sit here all naked just holding my face.

Perhaps some day I'll stand up and see
How naked I am when alone I flee.
I'll put on my best, my face will be seen
And somewhere out there I'll find a new dream.

Get down from this pedestal, down from this life
I'll take a long walk and find a new wife.
Somewhere in the woods far beyond we will build
A life full of love and to each other's good yield.
Wes©

"NEVER LET EMOTION SHOW !!"
Stalin-like utterances from speakers posted hitherto.
"SMILE - AND DIE !!!"
It's the law of the land, the earth, the end of time!

All armies, enemies, friends and foe
Recalling a moment of light hearted dally
Smiled a touch, grinned a tad, smirked just so
POOF!! Combustion!! Their next step disapearing from earth.

My monies afforded me a molded mask. 
Made by the best hands this earth had to offer.
Every INCH of my face, caught in Neoprene...
Undetected by all Scrutineers.
Silently smiling, laughing underneath... 
whilst all my comrades direly trotted onward.
Until one by one.. there were no more.

This maze allowed only one winner upon this pedestal
that was sought by many.
Adorned by one only - the last one smiling - so to speak.
I can remove my mask now, YET, in doing so..
I MUST Hide my shame.
My shame that allowed me to smile, laugh, smirk--UNDETECTED.

And what have I won, in reality?? Loneliness, Solitude??
Was it worth it?? I will forever go on, unsmiling.
Ironic.. isn't it?
Solar© 

How did it start - the charade, the masquerade?
I am so tired of the pretense...no change with the dawn
No change with the dusk...It all seems the same.

The real me...does anyone know, do they care, do I exist?
Or am I as mere dust blown in the wind soon to vanish?
Served a purpose and spent - will it ever stop?
Blueflaxen©

All alone in the middle of the night.
You expose yourself by the moons dim light.
Curled in a ball you let out all your cares.
Crying to yourself you release your fears.
I see you everyday, you put on an act.
You substitute for characteristics you think you lack.
You smile, laugh and act so nice.
Inside your heart has turned to ice.
Scarred by people who have led you wrong.
You have searched for years for a place to belong.
You feel secure in just one place.
Curled up alone behind a face.
Searching for an end, there is no peace.
You wonder when your troubles will cease.
I know your mind, but you can't reach me.
Let go of your thoughts and you will be free.
I stand on the other side of a sea of doubt.
I watch the night turn to day and anticipate the sun coming out.
You on the other side await for the night.
When your act subsides, You know you're losing this fight.
Curled in a ball night after night.
Accepting the dark letting go of the light.
Lift up your head for morning is nigh.
Let go of your past or your soul will die.
Extend an empty hand, You will never fall.
But stand strong and tall on life's pedestal. 
Feline©

In this Picture what do I see;
A man on a pedestal, a hero maybe...?
Last vestige of pride stripped from his skin;
Mask removed to reveal the person within...

Head bent low to shield his eyes;
Not wanting to show the world how he cries...
For his sins there are many, you can hear him shout;
But God really loves him, and of that there's no doubt...

But what did you really want me to see;
A man so successful who plays golf to a tee...?
Or an officer in the Navy, I don't know his rank;
A Chief Exec maybe, with dollars in the Bank...?

No that's not it, I'll tell you what I see;
A poet, a writer, an artist maybe...?
Who works very hard from dawn until dusk;
But in the evening writes poems about rose scented musk...

We are only human, you and I;
So come dearest friend, wipe the tear from your eye...
Your true identity I shall never reveal;
For on my lips I have placed a loving seal...

Whatever your reasons for keeping ME in the dark;
My memories now sustain me each day while I work...
For an artist and dreamer you know ME to be;
But I thank you for bringing the Poet out in me...
La Poetessa©

One warm and salty rivulet
One slowly streaming tear
Gently caressing the
Contours of my cheek
I look around
Although I don't care
Removing the hardened shell from my face
Unmasked
I am alone
To feel the tear
To taste the tear
To know the tear
I am alone
I am the tear
Romantic-at-Heart©

Here on her pedestal
Alone, scared
Wondering why she left me

When will I stop feeling this way?
So hard to separate the pain
Naked to my emotions
Exposed for everyone to see
I let her get too close

I cannot let them see me like this
I will put on a face
A mask to hide my tears
To hide my heartache

I let her inside
I loved her like no other
With her I shared my everything
All of me, all my emotions,
All that I feel and know
With her I was completely naked
Defenses shattered
I thought no longer necessary

She took my heart
And just left me
Oh God, make the pain go away!

When she was here
And we were together
The sun, it shined so bright for us
Now, the beauty of that sun is gone
The skies now filled with the flames of torment and pain

I don't understand
Why she is gone
What will I do without her?
My Lover Lost!
crystar_© 

This heart must face all souls' history
of both black and golden memories,
as a boy whose paths led away
from the safety of home's simplicities,
each step straining the ties of family.

The track has been broad, wild and free
with career, family and friends all beside me
Trusting my toughness and ability
to enjoy success, although not so frequently.

At solitary points in the many journeys
comes the realization of the singularity
each person holds among society's
fabric in its ever widening complexity.
-aye_©

This setting sun does little to help me
as I try to recall the image of my face
left alone for so very long, forgotten
to all who knew me, trapped within this place.

God, take from me this madness
give to me a secure belief
allow to me the peace of mind
that will anniluate my grief.

I hide my life behind this mask
afraid to show the me that's real
because of what people might say
because of how I'd make others feel.

From neck down, my body is true to form
only behind my eyes can the truth be seen
my only wish is to find that one
who can see beyond what my looks could mean.

The real me is trapped so deep within
if only you'd take the time to see
what it is inside that makes me whole
and all that it is that enables me to be. 

So as I hide my face from this cruel world
and as my life so quickly passes by
I will still love each and every one of you
you'll be in my heart till the day I die.
Grizz©

Images of you continuously haunt my thoughts
Words which we have spoken sounding clear
Holding me captive to a time that will never again reappear
You continuously taunt me, not allowing me to forget

Is it not enough that you invade my nightly dreams
Must you also constantly torment my waking days
Without warning, intruding my concious thoughts
When I so desperately want to forget that you exist

My love I gave to you with all that I am
I wore no mask, nor did I attempt to hide
Trustingly, I opened myself completely to you
Wore my heart upon my sleeve for all to see

Friends for life, I believed that we would be
To share our hopes, our dreams, our destiny
Unspoken words now scream out at me
Why, oh why, did you just disappear from me?

Words from you no longer exist, nor a simple hello
My friend for life, has taken leave of me
Now all that's left for me are my memories 
A stranger to me you will now forever be

Now emptiness exists where love once reigned
Resounding echos of laughter we once shared
Crying out to me, begging to once again be heard
Replaced by my silent tears, which now only I can hear
Gitte©

Since a meeting
Friendship is so fleeting
Soon it dies
From little white lies
All that one asks
Is to take off the mask
That we put forward every day
Hiding true feelings in everyway.
A small word
Cannot be heard
Until we say
I'm sorry...
pixierose©

Subject to the flesh
In the form of a man
He wept for the loss of a friend
How much more will He weep
Over the loss of mankind
Subjects to Him
Reina© 

With ramparts cast in walls of stone
We guard the weaknessess of our souls,
For within these walls we reign alone
And guests are tasked to pay their tolls;

With masks that cloud our earthen stay
To hide our faces filled with joy or fear;
To damn the temptations which have lead astray
The love and friendships we hold dear.

How many masks must drop in just reveal
To see the naked truth which cannot fall?
Until the weakness in our heart dost feel
The final trust, love seeks in all?

Do we fear the gates of heaven or of hell
Less than the truth which our face may say?
That condemned in solitude we'd rather dwell
Than feel the pain from eyes while we dare stray?

Ah, and there is our passion's mighty wave
Which flooded shores of promises once made;
Though in the winds of time another mask we brave
Just to find anew, the tribute we have paid.

No, there is no wrong in hiding our inner fear
Lest we long to weep Love's daily strife,
For pending doom will sure appear
If friends won't man these ramparts of our life;

And until one can feel our heartthrob by its sound,
Can see our smile which is a frown;
Or hears the roaring laughter we have bound
To the grimace of a stupored clown...

We are blind and deaf to those who wait, or came,
And we missed the masks which they have strown
From their chariots with open hearts aflame,
Upon our still lonely, lonely throne.
Zephyr© 

Un-masked in shame
There is only him to blame

He used many faces
To break hearts in Vplaces

Why does it have to be?
One falls in love, the other will flee

Seems his own medicine he had a taste
Now tables turn his own feelings displaced..

You've planned your last attack
It's time to remove the mask.
hunnybunn_3©

Do you stand before the world naked,
exposed.
Do you let them in,
to see.

How often do you remove the mask,
for all.
Not often, I bet.
Like me.

Many layers to sift through,
exposing parts.
Never all,
just what they expect.

Peeling back that which,
reveals self.
The roads taken,
detours are many.

Can you see me,
or just the shell,
which contains, 
me.

Look past that which,
the eyes capture.
Can you,
except.

You may wish to stay comfortable,
inside your hell.
Each to their own,
I say.

If one should drop,
that mask,
from finger tips,
so long a fist.

And be spited,
judged.
Then once again,
I shall retreat to sit upon the pedestal.

We are born alone,
and we die the same.
Naked and exposed,
waiting for guidance.
Robert Wood©
...........................................................................................................