Masks

by

RDG

Mask of Business

Let's face it.

We all wear masks.

Mine is easy to put on.

I am a scientist, a craftsman and general repairman.

No one can see beneath my mask of industry.

I work all day; researching, repairing, building and inventing. I think of ways to make the lives of my family easier.

Beneath that, I worry. I am angry, frustrated, confused and lonely.

Why?

Because… beneath it all, I long and crave to be understood. Being a mutant limits my friends. The friends I have do not truly understand me.

I wish there was someone I could talk to, who would understand and maybe even relate.

Daily I place my mask over my face and no one is the wiser.

8~8~8~8~8

Mask of Anger.

Let's face it.

We all wear masks.

Mine is easy to put on.

I'm the strongest, the toughest and I love to fight.

No one wants to look beneath my mask of rage.

I go about my days training, warning others to leave me alone and those who do not leave me alone, I fight.

Why?

Because I'm afraid they'll see under my pretense.

I'm lonely.

How? You ask," you have friends, brothers. How can you be lonely?"

Yeah, I have friends who care but I'm alone all the same.

Isn't there someone who could understand me? Someone who I wouldn't have to hide from?

But I'll never know. Because I can't let down my guard. The others depend on my guard to be up. I'm their first line of defense, because I'm the offense. So I won't let down my guard.

And no one will ever know who I am beneath my mask of anger.

8~8~8~8~8

Mask of Laughter

Let's face it.

Everyone wears masks.

Mine is easy to put on.

I'm not easily discouraged and I like making others laugh. Heh, making fun of overly serious people comes naturally to me. But sometimes, I feel like I'm laughing on the outside and crying on the inside.

There's no one to make me laugh. No, that's my job… who knew it could be so lonely?

I'm alone with my laughter, pranks and jokes.

And with that loneliness comes a sadness I can't describe. It's easy to cover up, though it hurts so much.

I hide my sadness and loneliness with cheeriness and goofiness.

Ironic, isn't it?

8~8~8~8~8

Mask of Confidence

Let's face it.

We all wear masks.

Mine is easy to put on.

I'm the oldest, the responsible big brother and the disciplined ninja. The dutiful son and the uncanny warrior.

No one knows who I really am beneath this mask of leadership.

They assume I am stronger then I really am, braver then how I really feel, and they think I know more then I really do.

The truth is, I am a blind man leading blind men. Beneath my serene mask, I can pretend I know what I am doing; I pretend I have the answers. I can't let down my mask.

If I do, then I will let them all down. My brothers depends on me for leadership, for the answers and the direction. My father depends on me to lead my brothers. I cannot ever show them that I am just as lost as they.

Day by day, I keep my mask on, pretending I'm in charge.

So, what's your mask?

Sorry, this came to me, and i had to write it down. i have no idea, however, what possessed me to PUBLISH it.

the coffee did it.

I have updated this, taking something from it. Until I find a better way to state what I originally wrote, it will remain this way. Thank you for reading!