Fatigued

didn't fit

Camouflaged
in niceties,
he wore his smile
and his long eyelashes
like a flashy new suit
at a dinner party.

I bought in.
missing the caps
that hid the decay,
the eyes whose shine
was artificial light.

Before I knew it,
he slipped inside
my skin
and my life
as his glimmer
would begin.

friend
lover
husband
father --
camouflage

luckily,
I went on a diet.
and one day,
he just
fell away.

Author's Note

captcha enrobe

Reviews

[redzone]

a face tattooed would be one way to detect the camouflage, if only it were so easy... alas far too many find out only after the damage is done and hearts broken (even if the diet has worked)... it's a powerful poem done with the soft touch of reality right in his face and then a confident tone of defiance and verve with a song of sparkle... it has to feel great to be able to breath again KL...

redzone

[Lyn Anderson]

Yes, it does, and thank you. It is a struggle though, for anyone who was a long time in something bad, to forgive oneself and move on.

[redzone]

I hear you on this and it seems from a distance at least, that you are doing well and gaining strength and still keeping your humanity and caring... it is nice to see this and gives hope to others...

[Ana Papaya]

This is the best kind of skin to shed. Bravo.
(And good poem!)

[Lyn Anderson]

Thank you. And the song, the best of it is the end.:)

[The Rock And Roll Cowbo..]

They say we are what we eat... that includes when we feed on the negativity of others... tis better to starve for love then be poisoned by a tainted heart.

[Lyn Anderson]

Yes my friend, thank you.

[James]

Tired of fakes. A shame it takes so long for true colors to shine, or for someone to tire of someone else's BS, lies and double lives. Nice way to express a very painful situation.

[Lyn Anderson]

Thanks so much for reading and reviewing.

[Jon Roggie]

It would be easy to change the gender on this one. There are those kind of people. Nice one.

[Lyn Anderson]

Absolutely. I am reminded of a friend who was duped into dating a woman with whom he had so much "in common" - except none of it was true.

[barleygirl]

Very creative! I'm following your story vividly even tho some of it is written in a symbolic way. Love the play on words with "fatigued" and "camoflauge" . . . Oh how many I've also been drawn in by! Why couldn't I see so clearly as you've spelled it all out here!???! *smile*

[Lyn Anderson]

Thank you. I wish I had known too. Looking back it's easy to find the holes in the story, but while you are in the moment, you can really miss it. To be fair, though, at least some try in the beginning, but their true nature comes out. That's why it's best to know up front, just what's under that suit.:)

[Ted Kniffen]

I like the opening verse. It describes so many both male and female who camouflage their intentions. Hunters.

[Lyn Anderson]

Most definitely. Thank you. Both sides can be very disingenuous, purporting to be something they are not, liking things they don't. Probably best to meet at a venue where you are both doing something you actually like, or just move all that b.s. out of the way and cut to the chase. If you like, you like, if you don't, you leave.

[Baby Ricochet]

Love the diet metaphor in the last stanza.

[Lyn Anderson]

Thanks. Appreciate that.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

love the diet part at the end...and i am always leery of suits...too polished---and the tie usually doesn't match the disposition or intention.

[Lyn Anderson]

Very often the courting is merely baiting. Chuck the pretenses. Start with real. Then, no matter the outcome, you won't feel duped.

[Bacchus]

camo
like on a hunt
totally catching you
but only to fire

powerful
that these titles and roles can
soften us to allow the enemy in

always dressed like sheep, wolves of the worst kind

[Lyn Anderson]

Most definitely. Thank you so much. Love should be "stripped down" -- and with that I must be writing, thank you for the thoughts.