Constrictive Skin

Wearing new skin, this lady's all anew
 Brandishing epidermal camouflage
A new sense of comforted composure
  Gallantly striding in a way she never had
Safely
  Stepping
     Strengthened
I dare not ask to see a layer below this show
  She is showing me the preferable version
Nodding I approve...yes a better you
  a newer you
    a different you...silently I disapprove
Fearing I knew the little girl hiding underneath
  would peek from time to time
Seeing if her costume served its perfunctory purpose
  fooling them...pleased...she traipsed in hollow garb

The masquerade wore on and a newer audience appeared
Performances went from weekly, to daily, to constant
Consuming and constrictive
New skin clung tight to a suffocating girl
A different girl
  A frustrated girl

The game had transformed into a maddening display
The girl I knew, a shell of herself, feeling trapped
Crying out in a confused scream of fit
"Why don't they understand"!!!!
I couldn't bring myself to tell her what she wouldn't see
A facade of outer strength was weakening the core
No one understood her...because they didn't know who she was.....
Copyright © | Year Posted 2009

Poem

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Ryusaka Avatar
March 1, 2009 at 6:30 PM
Wow, I totally relate to this girl. You do slice through pretensions don't you? Or do all poets? Really great piece.
 Avatar
March 1, 2009 at 2:30 PM
Interesting perspective in this poem. I like the title. Thank you for sharing your thoughts with us. Karen
Loving Iii Avatar
March 1, 2009 at 1:40 PM
"yes a better you" might be the most told lie behind "I'm fine". creative i liked the phrases. John H. Loving III
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