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- Author
- 09/27/2026
- 104 Words
- 35 Views
- 4 Comments
Poetry posted in this category are works of fiction. Names, places, characters, events, and incidents are created by the authors' imaginations or are used fictitiously. Any resemblances to actual persons (living or dead), organizations, companies, events, or locales are entirely coincidental.
Note: While authors are asked to place warnings on their stories for some moderated content, everyone has different thresholds, and it is your responsibility as a reader to avoid stories or stop reading if something bothers you.
Note: While authors are asked to place warnings on their stories for some moderated content, everyone has different thresholds, and it is your responsibility as a reader to avoid stories or stop reading if something bothers you.
The Mask - 1. Chapter 1
“The Mask” is a quiet, introspective poem about living behind a practiced façade. The speaker hides his vulnerability to keep peace and stay safe, yet feels the pull of genuine connection—the longing to be seen fully without shrinking or pretending. It explores the tension between safety and authenticity, and the hope that real acceptance exists even for those who’ve learned to hide.
The Mask
I walk the world
with a practiced face,
a version of myself
that keeps the peace
and keeps me safe.
People see the surface —
the humor, the insight,
the calm —
but not the weight
I carry quietly.
I learned to hide
because honesty felt dangerous,
and vulnerability
never came free.
But even behind the mask,
I feels the pull
of real connection —
the kind that doesn’t demand
I shrink or pretend.
I wants someone
who sees the whole picture,
who doesn’t mistake the mask
for the man,
who knows the truth
and stays anyway.
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Poetry posted in this category are works of fiction. Names, places, characters, events, and incidents are created by the authors' imaginations or are used fictitiously. Any resemblances to actual persons (living or dead), organizations, companies, events, or locales are entirely coincidental.
Note: While authors are asked to place warnings on their stories for some moderated content, everyone has different thresholds, and it is your responsibility as a reader to avoid stories or stop reading if something bothers you.
Note: While authors are asked to place warnings on their stories for some moderated content, everyone has different thresholds, and it is your responsibility as a reader to avoid stories or stop reading if something bothers you.
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