“Words dazzle and deceive because they are mimed by the face.But black words on a white page are the soul laid bare.” ― Guy de Maupassant
Wall of Masks
The words fell naked from her face,
So proud to run a single race,
Alone each mile at her own pace.
A smile and eyes glistened red in light,
Each mask she wore slipped on skin tight,
And all their hues and colors were right.
They played all summer in heat and sun,
And all the friends were there for fun,
But for her the task was to pick which one,
To fall as prey to her sick game.
All rued the day they learned her name.
They came for joy, she gave them blame,
They drank those words to slack their thirst,
They drank until their minds near burst,
The lacy toxins only made it worse.
In their heart the seeds of hate,
Grew like weeds in the lake,
And when they knew, it was too late,
To erase the words their hearts now felt.
Words fell on backs like leather belts,
until bowed and on their knees they knelt.
She stood victorious all alone,
The sun set, there was no one.
She cries out loud but no one comes.
She taunts her masks with naked face,
And screams the words that set her pace,
To run for life in a single race,
Alone with all her masks of hate.
I found you again:-)
Powerful words.
I love the first line that sets the pace just so.
Randstein… when rain falls heavily in my part of the world, water gushes and sings along side the randstein carryng news from far away and washing away the uglies.
Writing does that too.
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Thank you so much for stopping by Em! I love the metaphor of the lowly randstein. We overlook it until we find ourselves influenced by it. You have left me with a very pleasant interpretation that I certainly agree with. This little piece closed a very short chapter in my life where toxic words, written and shouted, damaged those that listened and internalized the hate spewed on them. And, as your comment so beautifully noted, the ugly was washed away.
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Brilliant! 🙂
It’s always nice to see the boomerang going back to the person who launched it 🙂
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Ha ha! Yes 🙂 Right off the the ole toxic noggin 🙂
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That was really powerful, Heinz.
I’d hate to see behind the mask of the person (people) of whom that makes me think… But i saw anyway or i wouldn’t have escaped. But the road of escape hasn’t reached the right exit ramp yet. Maybe one day. Then, “Giddy-up!” 😀
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I am over there —> At the curb. That’s me, jumping up and down, rooting you on to victory! Be sure to post a selfie of that big smile when you arrive at the winner’s circle. 🙂
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Heavy!!!! Very nice!!!!!!
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Thank very much Heather! It’s a twist on the Victorian style and my personal reply to toxic people that invade our lives with adroit skills to say the things that open our hearts to let them in. Karma wins in the end. 😉
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always does 🙂 !!!
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