I wear a mask to hide from you
Since you would not believe
The mask I wear below that one,
The one you can’t perceive.
That mask as well is not quite true.
It hides reality
That’s always there and never done
And one that I can’t see.
Text: Linked to dVerse Poetics. Michelle Beauchamp (Mish) is hosting with the theme “mask”.
Photo: “Sky Masked By Leaves” by the author and linked to Frank Jansen’s Tuesday Photo Challenge with the theme “sky”.
Poetry, Short Prose and Walking 
This reminds me of that layer of subconsciousness we cannot reach.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, we are mysteries even to ourselves. Thanks, Bjorn!
LikeLike
Yes, I recognise that in me Frank, and in many others!
LikeLiked by 1 person
We can only see so much of ourselves and that might be a good thing. I recognize it in myself as well. Thank you, Peter!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Intricate weaving in this one, Frank. Well- thought words.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Jilly! There are many masks to keep track of.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Layers of mask indeed. Thoughtful pen Frank.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Paul! I also liked the common mask you mentioned in your poem. I forgot that one here.
LikeLike
It is an interesting idea Frank and was inspired by the quote I used at the start.
LikeLiked by 1 person
A beautiful poem. Brings Yeat’s poem ‘The mask’ to mind. One minor thing, perhaps: I can hear more commas in it than are present in the text. Maybe just me. Have a great day!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Good catch! I added a comma after the third line and a period after the fifth. Thanks, Ronnie!
LikeLiked by 1 person
We can never really see ourselves as others see us so I suppose we always wear masks. Even our mirror images are not what others see. It’s a conundrum.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think it is a good thing we don’t precisely know everything. That offers us an eternity of exploration. Thanks, Kim!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Does too many masks mean none at all?
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think we wear a lot of masks, these conscious intentional projections of who we think we are, but we don’t really know ourselves well enough to know what we are masking over. I don’t think it’s a bad thing not to know ourselves perfectly. We do what we can. Thanks, Jane!
LikeLike
We probably wouldn’t like what we found anyway 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
What I cannot see, what I cannot believe…a mask indeed!
LikeLiked by 1 person
It is a mask we didn’t intentionally put on. Thank you, Annell!
LikeLike
Perceptive and introspective … and couched in truth!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Bev! We will probably never get the complete truth about ourselves which should make life interesting if not entertaining.
LikeLike
Those leaves are beautiful!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you! I took the picture yesterday while on a walk to the library in the drizzling rain.
LikeLike
Sounds like a wonderful day.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I really liked that poem, Frank.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Masks within masks…intriguing! And so true. Well articulated in simple rhymes and meter! Great work!
LikeLiked by 1 person
One of the things I realized while reading the other poems is that it might be a good thing to wear masks. The possibilities of masks can be intriguing as you mentioned. Thanks, Frank!
LikeLiked by 1 person
There is much inner depth, inward introspection in this poem. Not that it’s you, the poet; rather, the poetic voice. Well thought — well written.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I suspect there is a difference between the poetic voice and the poet. It is not all an individual effort. There is a communal aspect to using language and there may also be muses out there somewhere. Thanks, Charley!
LikeLike
Indeed. Poetry, I’ve come to believe, is one person writing their own heart out; voicing the hearts of a great chorus.
LikeLiked by 1 person
That is a good way to look at it. We are not isolated individuals. There is something bigger we are a part of–more than just an aggregate of individual points on a line and our language is its voice.
LikeLike
Maybe we start out doing soliloquies and end up with a chorus. 🙂
LikeLike
Yes. At times we are not true even to ourselves. We wear masks to keep our sanity…
Anna :o]
LikeLiked by 1 person
Good point. Keeping our sanity is a good reason to wear a mask. Thanks, Anna!
LikeLike
I like the way you address each layer peeling back to the authentic self….or not…..do we really ever truly know ourselves? A thought provoking poem.
LikeLiked by 1 person
The authentic self may not be completely knowable and it may not even be each of us as isolated individuals. Mysteries spookier than ghosts. Thank you, Mish! And thanks for the prompt!
LikeLike
Wonderful! I like the idea of a mask beneath a mask.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you! Words are like masks of reality as well. They hide and help us see at the same time.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Good work Frank,
we all sometimes wear masks 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think the masks can be both good and bad. They hide but sometimes they help us understand what would not be clear otherwise. Thank you, Ben!
LikeLiked by 1 person
There are layers to deception. The hustler will always be one step ahead. Very true Frank!
Hank
LikeLiked by 1 person
Even the hustler has to survive, but it takes a lot of work to do so in that manner. Thank you, Hank!
LikeLike
Ah …. the layers of masks. Perhaps occasional? Perhaps our subconscious at times unpeels what we have in place? And Im’ wondering, how does “unconditional” love fit into the idea of masks?
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think we get to peek behind these hidden masks. Maybe the masks help us see it better? Thank you, Lillian!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Intense. Yes, we are all like layers of an onion. So who does the peeling? Or what?
LikeLiked by 1 person
It is like the layers of an onion. I hadn’t thought of them being masks before, but they could be seen that way. I suppose when all the layers are removed there is nothing left, but maybe there are just no more masks and everything real is left? Thank you!
LikeLike
We are layered. Nice poem.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Mary!
LikeLike
Very nice, Frank, the real personality behind the persona.
LikeLiked by 1 person
There is something real there, but no need to every uncover it completely. Thank you, Robbie!
LikeLiked by 1 person
As an ex-professional actor, I can assure you that each of us are legion, capable of unearthing a plethora of masks & emotions–I believe in part connected to past lives.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It is easy to put on masks although some do it better than others and we are all masks to ourselves. Thank you, Glenn!
LikeLike
Intriguing- a mask beneath a mask hiding a hidden reality. A real mystery- but this is how life is sometimes (for some people).
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sometimes we think we see what’s behind the mask. Thank you, Vivian!
LikeLiked by 1 person
You’re welcome!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I like how one layer gives way to another – frustrating to know someone so well masked! layers – in leaves as well
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sometimes it is good to have masks. They may allow us to see ourselves in an easier way that we can understand. Thank you, Laura!
LikeLike
SMiLes.. my friEnd.. the mask we show
the mask we feel and sense
And finally
Thanks
Goodness
the Mask
wHo sHows
us wHat to do..:)
LikeLiked by 1 person
I didn’t think of that mask before. We follow it when we act and hope it is for the best, but it is still a mask. Thanks, Fred!
LikeLiked by 1 person
SMiLes my
FriEnd
For
The
Invisible
Mask
Will
Not be
Duplicated..;)
LikeLiked by 1 person
Beautiful poses (masks) and verses! Especially, the first shot.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you! I liked the still-green heart-shaped leaf in the top photo that stood out as a kind of mask of what was going on behind it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great photographs Frank, I love the first one with the leaves especially ☺🍁🍂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Xenia! That first one with the still-green heart-shaped leaf is my favorite as well of the set.
LikeLiked by 1 person
So the vast sky is also only one of the few masks and illusions of reality …
LikeLiked by 1 person
I suspect everything we can name is a kind of mask because its perspective is limited. Thank you!
LikeLiked by 1 person