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Notes About The Poem

 Memories Lost Within A Frozen Mist Poetry Contest

Sponsored by Sara Jama

3.15.25

Second Place

 

Personas Limitation

Personas have limits, boundaries veiled by the thin masquerade of pretense
They whisper promises of identity, yet crack under pressure of reality's weight—poet

She puts on her face while vaping smoke surrounds, 
Carefully paints fishtail eyes , studs, and crimson lips,  
satin scarfs around hug her hips
Bindi adorned when with the Janes
A sterling nose ring pierces a membrane
Azure pools of light inserted—contact’s atop  
wistful deeper dark reddish brown longing lens
Riffles through a cosmetic bag, 
Faberge`a final touch then off she struts
Spinning the roulette wheel in random realms
Burned through one persona after another
The mask worn smothers 
Charcoal tears pour down her cherry cheeks
Personas have their limitations
Reinventions only break the tiresome tensions
Infinite shades of pale, anemic, listless                                         
Darker are the shadows that deem
Her skin is frail, weakness fills a ship and torn it’s sail
Though her wit retains its cutting edge
out on the ledge an empty soul on trial
Tragic trends suit her
Charcoal tears won’t save her
Metamorphosis’s demise, elusive unmasked                            
Limited are the bounds of weakness,
Marie-Thérès  Picasso’s golden muse
hung herself after his death 
Now a frozen memory in the dark daze
as nothing else remains its love’s myth
She played the games we may or not resist
Gone those days frozen in merciless mist
where fate awaits

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CayCay Jennings Date: 4/4/2025 10:12:00 AM I remember reading this when it placed in the contest and thinking that apparently a most talented writer started on Soup during my absence. Now, I've connected the talent to you and read more of you, confirming my initial reaction to your pen. I felt this, it is such a successful write ... CayCay Login to Reply I Am Anaya Date: 4/4/2025 10:54:00 AM I've only just seen your name here recently, if I would have known you, I would have read you sooner, CC. You are a breath of fresh air and with a poet's flair and nuances demure. Good to see you, you are very generous ~

Sara Jama Date: 3/18/2025 5:06:00 PM Thank you for writing for my contest. Congratulations on placing. You captured living behind a facade beautifully. Your poem drips with stark dark imagery that I absolutely adore. The ship reference was one of my favourites and captured sinking in one owns thoughts and lies perfectly. Login to Reply I Am Anaya Date: 3/19/2025 9:27:00 AM Sara, I enjoyed reading your post and am thrilled that you found it stark dark, as it was definitely my goal. I could've gone gothic girl but think that persona's an outdated stereotype. I'm working on maritime metaphors and too love sea related metaphors. Thank you so much, I enjoy your contests!

Duke Beaufort Date: 3/17/2025 7:04:00 AM Anaya, this has a bit of a sting and seems to me to be an excellent work on your part. Makes me think we all need to evaluate our position in life carefully along the way and take advantage of whatever talents we have. It's an interesting call for equality based on merit, which at times is limited by our appearance and societal influences. Trying to fit a role could obscure our own identity and lead to ruination. That's a big ouch and makes me feel sorry for Marie-Thérès. Picasso's life has a lot of lessons that go beyond his art itself. Thanks for work that leads to exploration and education. I'm amazed really to learn about people and to look at historical description from poetry such as yours. You bring a lot of depth here. Login to Reply I Am Anaya Date: 3/20/2025 5:59:00 PM Duke , you must be a big fan of Picasso’s, I try to like them and with all my might, well I certainly love the vibrant colors. I painted Budda heads for a time, and some could certainly pass for Picasso’s, and not by design! Lol. Duke Beaufort Date: 3/17/2025 7:18:00 AM Part of the historical interest is Picasso's attraction to several younger women. A challenge we might pose today is how does any artist portray inner beauty, which is something lost at times in our appearance-based culture. A lot to think about. I have few answers and a lot of questions.

Anne-Lise Andresen Date: 3/16/2025 1:23:00 PM - A skillful poem ... beautifully described, Anaya :) - "Charcoal tears won’t save her" - GL in the contest :) - (soup-mail reply) - hugs Login to Reply I Am Anaya Date: 3/16/2025 1:56:00 PM Anne-Lise, I thought i'd try this difficult character study and am most thankful that you liked. Ok, hugs back! working on my st paddy's day lim. :D

David Kavanagh Date: 3/16/2025 7:49:00 AM A beautifully written piece Anaya, done up to the nines, but behind the facade a fragile reality rears its ugly self, some great contrasting lines here, (A sterling nose ring pierces a membrane) has a certain visceral appeal, even all the cutting wit, could not save her from the bounds of weakness, life is cruel! Brilliant poem, I’m pretty sure will do well in contest, cheers David Login to Reply I Am Anaya Date: 3/16/2025 8:45:00 AM Wasn't sure where it was going until I searched for abstract images a link to Picasso's golden muse only seventeen, his secret love, model, it felt like a perfect end. Sara gets heavy metal so piercings, studs, rock on! Ty, cheers