By TheDubalPoet
Date: 17 January 2001
The man behind the mask
Staring intently at my presence in the reflection
A fresh dew on my head and clean shine about my face
I look at the day a new
Yesterday seems so far behind, and yet
The memories run fresh in my concience
And escaping the torture of my thoughts seem like a fading dream
Still, I wipe my face with a scraggly red towel
Peer into those dark brown eyes with intent
Only to say... who are you?
I recognized the ever present figure of sadness
Eyes that have suffered much rain
A mouth that has been excersied in routine
A vagues picture of what was, now stares me down
My heart cripples at the image of myslef
As I realize that the 'man in the mirror', is the man behind the mask
No crowds left to entertain
Yet my body feels the urge to be led like a puppet
Into a play full of lust, lies, and long life
A war rages in that head behind the wrinkled brow,
But not even the thick reddish brown hair
can keep my mind from being seen
Yet I continue my pursuit of death
Trying to live a life that was once hoped to be forgotten
Still lingering in my soul
As the lights dim down, and the people walk to their seats
The mask sits upon my dresser, and leaves me
Contemplating one last performance
Will I ever end this masquerade?
Or just continue dancing in the spotlight?
My body is getting worn and my spirit is becoming broken
The mask now embraces faded colors
With a large crack in the center
Illuminating it's age
Finally, I come to the realization
That all I have seen, is behind this one mask
What if I went on stage without it?
Will I still be able to entertain everyone around me
or become an offense to their eyes?
I set my decision in stone, tossing the aging mask towards the trash
With the curtain still closed
A last contemplation rages inside
To go back to the room and grab my disguise
With a sudden thunder of clapping and cheers
My door to freedom now awaits me
At the announcing of my fame
Staggering on stage scared and tense
I hear utter silence from my crowd
Fearing the worst I hid my frown and embarrasment
I longed to reach for that mask once more
Only to hear the laughs and applaud
Of a crowd now entagled in their dilema
I turned my attention to one who arose up in the middle
Among everyone in the crowd
Sounding his approval of my success
Squinting to notice my admirer from the bright lights
Who would risk such embarrassment to stand up for me?
Who would take such a scolding for my sake?
He was not ashamed in the least bit
sounding deafining cheers of delight
of the man behind the mask
Who is it I pleaded!!!
Who has encouraged this man behind the mask!!!?
I ran off staged humiliated by the people in the crowd
All but one despised the real me!!
My tears sat in puddles under my eyes
questioning everything I was
The man approached my saddened figure
with his arms wide spread
as he knelt and embraced me
He whispered in my ear
That he had sat through all my shows
And wept through each one
Dissapointed and saddened by the mask I wore
the man faithfully kept appearing at my performances
Constantly hoping for a better encore
After a long anticipation
you have showed me the courage of a lion
with a fierce change in direction
You have embraced who you really are
Showing everyone you are not ashamed
Of who I created you to be!!
The man sat there weeping with me until the wee hours
Never leaving me, holding my heart in his hand
And never squeezing too tight
Comforted I anxiously peered into his face
and saw the glory at a priceless love
That gave me new life
Whatever I held true up to that day
I now throw away with ease
For Jesus has allowed the real me to appear
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