Mask

Mask

A Poem by gentlekindness
"

Narcissist or psychopath, they play the same game

"


I get you now !
You have no real smile

Just  hundreds of variations of...
 facial expressions
tones of voice
hand gestures
and right things to say

Stories to impress men
Words to captivate women
Threats to coerce employees
Lies to deceive everyone

Various identities 
to keep your life in boxes
So your lies won't overlap

Six cell phones with different numbers
Seven email addresses 
At least 4 different companies 

That's as far as I know
Maybe there are more...

Various online dating profiles 
A computer program to scan for prey...

Empaths
Codependents
HIghly Sensitives
Romantics

The innocent
The abused
The naive
And the lonely

The young ones
The old ones
And anyone in between
The poets 
The artists
And the ones who want to save you

You show a vulnerable side
That is nothing but an act
You make them feel your pain
But you are mirroring theirs back

You show them some compassion
From scripts inside your head

You repeat their own words back
That they forgot that they said

They think you are for real
A man that they could care for
Someone who needs attention
And maybe mothering too

They know if they invest their time
Your love for them will be true

You train them all so well
To jump when you ring the bell...

Like Pavlov and his dog
Waiting for the food
You create a real addiction
Then make them beg for more

You let them paint the illusion
A dream from inside their mind
Exactly the way they picture it
A different mask for every crime

You become their favorite fantasy
Be anyone they want you to be

You lift them as high as you can
Upon your pedestal of gold

The higher you can lift them up
The farther they have to fall

And fall they will ...
Make no mistake
 They won't see it coming
Your skill has such grace...

You'll come up behind them
Contempt on your face

You'll yank out that stool
And cover all traces
That you ever planned it 
Or could hardly stand it

To play the role of vulnerable and weak

Now you are TOWERING 
Over your catch

Pour on the gasoline
And light up your match

Burning their hopefulness
And reasons for living
Corrupting their soul
Transfusing your sinning

You think...
"You thought you were winning?"

Ha!

Your face slowly changes
The expression is dark

She feels like she saw it once
In one of your glances
But it passed all too quickly 
And you covered with romances

She tries to beg forgiveness
As you tell her what she's done
You project all of your sins
And she wants to give in
And confess to the crimes
You committed

But before she can speak
Your image just blackens
Becoming no more than a shadow in her mind

The terror in her nightmares
For so many nights to come
As she lies all alone filled with dread

She thought you were real
And that you could feel
Like the other men she had once known

But you wore a mask 
That she helped you to cast
As you once hung on her every word

And now there's another 
Just waiting to instruct you
To create a new mask in every detail...

As you listen intently
The details are mentally filed
Your plan is being formed as you fashion a smile

She thinks you're so sweet
And is utterly amazed
At how you share all her hopes 
And admire her dreams

As you hold up the mirror
And show her herself
It is a match made in heaven for sure

She wonders how she found someone
She has so much in common with
Someone who feels just the same

As you study her strength
And look for the cracks 
You will shove your knife through
All too soon

A brand new mask has been forged
For the new prey to love
And sacrifice all that she has for

You suck all her blood 
And you take all she has
With the promise that all will be repaid

You will buy her that house
With the white picket fence
That she carries the picture of
In the pocket of her dress

But she does not see
That you were a different person to me

And will make another mask
When you are done with this task

It's all such a chore but you've done it before

One mask for each girl 
Let the games begin to twirl
They all end the same in the end

© 2016 gentlekindness


My Review

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Reviews

A very nice journey into your words.
"One mask for each girl
Let the games begin to twirl
They all end the same in the end"
I liked the way you led to the good ending. Thank you for sharing the excellent poetry.
Coyote

Posted 8 Years Ago


gentlekindness

8 Years Ago

Thank you, John. Always good to hear from you💕🌷
Annie
Coyote Poetry

8 Years Ago

A pleasure to read your words and thoughts my friend.
The reality as it is, the reality at its hardest..
This indeed was a long one, which doesn't have to be a bad thing in my opinion. You managed to keep my attention while reading, good job on that. The advantage of such a long piece is that the message you're trying to transfer to the reader is very well-described. I can really relate to what you mean: I've seen it myself, I see it everywhere nowadays. This makes up for an even bigger challenge to find the love of your life. But life is not enjoyable without any kind of challenge, isn't it? It only makes you stronger after all. Stick to your senses and listen to your heart, only your heart knows the truth. The brain, and therefore the eyes, are easy to fool.
Anyway, very nice poem! I really enjoyed reading it!

Posted 8 Years Ago


Sad but true. I usually can't get through the longer ones, but this one I really enjoyed!

Posted 8 Years Ago


1 of 1 people found this review constructive.

gentlekindness

8 Years Ago

Thank you for reading and taking the time to comment 💕💃
I have to say, with such a long poem, it's hard to maintain that delicate balance between quality and quantity but you managed it beautifully. The message of your poem is sad but true; the descriptions are impeccable. There is one change I'd like to suggest you make:
Instead of saying,
"That they forgot that they said"
It wold seem better to say,
"That they forgot they once said"
or
"That they forgot they had said"
Very good work, Annie. I look forward to more of your work.


Posted 8 Years Ago


gentlekindness

8 Years Ago

Thank you for your kind words and for reading my poetry.
I do agree that those two sentences.. read more
Iris

8 Years Ago

You're most welcome.
I like your reference to Pavlov. I also liked how each girl needs a new mask. It shows that creating a mask needs some understanding of what another wishes to see in the mask. Everyone masks themselves sometimes, but even then they are conditioned to present a certain image through it. And what does all this accomplish? Nothing but heartbreak.
Also, I enjoyed reading it through, then being able to go back and read just the bolded parts and see how nicely they fit together. Nice write.

Posted 8 Years Ago


gentlekindness

8 Years Ago

If you study narcissists and psycopaths you learn that they do accomplish their own ends through thi.. read more
I sadly see this more often than I see a healthy, working relationship. A genuine reality, a true horror.. But it is the horrors that should be revealed.

My heart goes out to the ones who tried. I don't like it when someone wastes someone else's time, intentionally or not.

Really good job. This will resonate with me and will be a piece I come back to and share with others. Keep it up.

Posted 8 Years Ago


gentlekindness

8 Years Ago

Thank you for your thoughtful comments. I am so glad you liked this poem.
Wishing you peace,.. read more
Oh how you so perfectly describe the ugly in so many people. I believe we have all encountered this person and have a story like this to tell. Nicely done.

Posted 8 Years Ago


gentlekindness

8 Years Ago

Some have gotten closer than others. Everyone has interacted with a psychpath in some way. They may .. read more
Faith

8 Years Ago

Exactly, you just never know.
Sadly, there are too many of these masked people out there, with all the subtlety and charm you speak of, living life for them and treating others as ornaments, commodities or worse, without a care or thought for the feelings of those left in their wake. And when they move on, it is only to new ground, the story remains the same, for the most part, to help keep them on track of their deceit. If there is such a thing as a soul, they were obviously rolled through that part of the assembly line too quickly to get theirs.
Wonderfully stated and beautifully penned.


Posted 8 Years Ago


gentlekindness

8 Years Ago

Thank for sharing your perspective. I think many people run into a psychopath from time to time, but.. read more

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Added on December 31, 2015
Last Updated on January 5, 2016
Tags: Masks


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