Beautiful work. Exquisitely painful expression of how many people exist.

I think that we all wear that same mask from time to time...I know that I do. Beautifully written sadness.

Don't all of us wear a mask like this? I know I do...
Sometimes I feel it is the only thing that protects me.

Cryssa

Outstanding surreal impressionistic ontologic symbolistic composition in poetic excellence.

In respect and admiration,

Andre Emmanuel Bendavi ben-YEHU

congratulations you've just joined a million others, "William Shakespeare's similar quote, "the world is simply a stage, we are the actors." If I took off my mask, my life would travel toward disaster.
There's such thing as appropriate behavior and inappropriate behavior, I can't see myself traveling the inappropriate direction, many times I laugh when actually I should go on and just curse a fool out. My wife always tell me, "you think everthings funny." My reply is no but considering the alternative I think I'll try to joke and laugh my way from reacting crazy like I should. Then she'll push me and say, "I know you're really mad, you're just covering it up."
Call me the great pretender, or the mask man or whatever. Being able to act any other way than stupid or mean has saved my bacon for years.
I'd love to act mean on some fools but I stick to my guns, or there might be guns. Real guns shooting. Love is one of my mask, knowing I'd love to slap the crap out of a stupid friend or family member. One of my no working stupid nephews threatened to put his nine milimeter on my big gorilla azz. Oh he'd need it, I'm a older man but I can still kick azz. So the big gorilla reduces to a chimp because it's better for my survival. But I always know King Kong is there if I have to release him. Great down the earth poetry dear poetess.

Lavender Jazz,
I do too...sometimes...
Mostly I let it all out there though.
I think it is imperitive to be our truest selves, to live by anothers standards or fear they will reject....go on I say.
I am sometimes to open, but that is who I am.
Some reservations are good though.
I liked your poem LJ, makes me remember when I used to do this back in my younger days of finding my self acceptance & deservances & values & worth.
Have A Mask Free Day My Friend! Your Worthy!!!
Open The Gates & Flood The Person Who Put That Mask There.
Curse Them Out. ;)
Love & Blessings To You
Always
Vickie
Embrace Yourself…
Embraced ~ Embrassé

Unmask and share the beauty of who you are. We are all often too critical of ourselves. Let the peace of love of self, reside in your heart. Jon Michael Willey

Heartfelt poem Lavendar,,,We can run, but we cannot hide,, It is good to write about your feelings,, Blessings and love,
Christine

Harsh and honest, I appreciate what you express here, Lavendar; and I can relate to it. Love and peace to you,

Regis

Deeply touching. The more we run from ourselves the more our shadows will chase. Best way is to accept who we are and live with ourselves in harmony otherwise we keep on runing, hiding, preventing and lying upon ourselves with no result other than living in fear and dying before death strikes. Great work

Now Lavender, we all wear a mask in this great scharade called life. There be only one thing that matters here, can you guess what that is? resonate it like the suns warmth and soon it shall reflect back upon thee. Illuminescent hearts know no folly, think as a child be kind and jolly!

A very moving and deep write my friend...welcome to the den, so glad that you stopped by my den today for it lead me to yours. I connect with your poem in a special way, as I think that we each way a mask of some kind at one time or another in our life. If there are those who have not, they will. I was taught by my mom that you didn't share your fears, pain, or insecurities with those who are around you...as she was and is a very private lady and one who went through the fire...your poem is intense and honest, although you wear a mask...I see a strong person with a desire to survive! Well done, I'll be back soon!
Blessings from Ky.
Joyce B.

Deep feelings emitted in the poem. I think we all hide behind a mask sometimes for protection.......M

Intricately intense and so full of raw emotion, time to take the mask off and take pride in who you are as a fellow human being....

Be always safe,
Karen

Lavander, we all wear masks at one time or other... my experience is that as we mature, that is the age numbers pile up :-)... the masks seem to evaporate completely, as we begin to accept our failures, mistakes, whatever, let it all go... and love who we are... nicely written... Blessings, Janice

We all wear at least one mask, don't we? They seem so benign, except for the one we have inside. This is beautiful and insightful, Lavendar Jazz, like you.

Powerfully poignant, Lavendar, well done.

(((HUGS))) and love, karla.

How sad yet how beautiful you write of one who's filled with fear and doubt and shame...The mask is just a facade...at night it must come off!