Behind the Masks

I see you walk in the world,
but your life is a closed facade.
I see the face you wear,
the same one you wear every day.

Expressions sometimes change.
It’s basically all the same.
I hear your conversations,
polite and carefully restrained,
and the poses you’ve adopted
and the way you think you are.
We’ve all been conditioned that way.

So for god sake put on a mask,
a mask of your own creation.
Yes, wear that one.
Let your hair down.
Log into virtual reality
if that’s what it takes to be free.

Behind that mask you can hide.
It’s the way to express yourself.
I’ll never be your judge.
You can be that hidden creature
you truly want to be.
Become your avatar.

Your dream ambitions
will show your secret essence
and then, for better or worse,
we’ll know who you truly are
and,
at last,
you will know your self.

The Masquerade

 

she is dressed like an angel
she is so perfect
he thinks
she may sprout wings
flying away in a moment

a heart is embroidered on the cuff
of his well-worn sleeve
it’s enough that she sees it
examines the finely made stitches
and smiles

he sees her eyes
clear, gentle, kind
as she flutters her swan feathered fan
across her lovely face,
a beating wing
allowing a glimpse of her mind

he wears a masque
his eyes, not well hidden,
bewitch her, and keep her there

the music is enchanting
they dance in a dream
tentative touching
they begin to open their hearts
in this harmonious dance
all is agreement
that this trance is worth keeping
preserving, defending, completing
even for life

in the morning
the music has stopped
the masques are removed
he bows, revealing his face,
he sees all that shows
beneath her smile
she curtsies with grace
they move away slowly
one unwilling step at a time

 

 

Timeless

how sweetly jasmin scents the air
its petals gleaming in the night
against the dark stones of the tower
my lady never looked so fair
as she looks tonight

leaning in her window there
her gentle hand against her cheek
with tender breezes in here hair
my lady never looked so fair
as she looks tonight

i know that she is thinking now of me
her lips curved in a smile of love
and she is dreaming peacefully
my lady never looked so fair
as she looks tonight

i could watch her hour by hour
passing time in loves delight
in moonlight she’s the loveliest flower
my lady never looked so fair
as she looks tonight

time will not fade her lovely face
an endless beauty shines within
a light, illuminating grace
my lady will remain as fair
as she is tonight