Ron Lanier Poet Rhyme

Behind the Mask

When you see a face that’s happy,
         Is what you actually see
         A beaming presentation of
         The person you know as me?

  Many masks can be deceiving
  And not as though they’re cast
  Sometimes the truth is covered
  With a pleasant looking mask.

         If you looked behind the façade,
         Beyond that cheerful mask
         And see the real face living there
         Some questions you might ask.

  For all have hidden realities,
  Tucked safely behind our mask,
  And keeping them all hidden
  Becomes our never ending task.

         Some masks hide a broken heart,
         Some will hide uncouth.
         Others will hide a broken dream,
         But all will hide the truth.

  So when you see that happy face 
  Is it truly the way it seems?
  Or is it a mask that covers up
  A sad heart and broken dreams?
	Author notes
It seems everyone has a mask. A face that is worn to hide their real feelings and emotions.

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Carol Sunshine Brown December 29, 2010 at 7:54 AM Just stopping by today to thank you for all your comments. I enjoyed reading your wonderful poetry today Ron. Happy New Year to you and yours. Love, Carol

Andrea Dietrich December 23, 2010 at 7:20 AM I think Social masks are quite appropriate. to smile at people despite the fact one is having a bad day. Usually I am just who you see. I know some who use masks a lot. But I think many people are showing us their true faces as well. This is a good poem to ponder on. LUv,Andrea

Anna-Marie Docherty December 21, 2010 at 6:37 AM Oh Ron this is so true, not one of us knows what goes on behind the face put on by another - are they really so happy, and why can they always be happy and not I... type questions can rush the mind. Most of us are guilty of this time and again and as Audrey below points out it is usually so we don't hurt others or bring the mood down... MAIL MESSAGE...

Audrey Haick December 18, 2010 at 9:13 AM In an unbalanced world masks are worn to "fit" in, Ron. Not wanting my young child to be burdened by my unhappiness I walk around the house sometimes with a mask and when I go to sleep at night, I remove it...Blessings, peace and joy this holy season and always, Audrey

Liz Walsh December 17, 2010 at 10:09 AM Everyone has a mask - sometimes it is how we survive life - well observed Liz