People wear masks. We hide the hurt or pain because it makes us vulnerable; and there is nothing more terrifying than vulnerability. We try to pretend that we are stronger than we are. Authenticity is rare. It's hard to be honest about ourselves and our struggles. Our problems and the worlds weigh so heavily it is easier to avoid them. It's easier to pretend. But the fact that it's easy is exactly why we shouldn't do it. Pretending the problems don't exist won't fix them.
Here are a couple different poems on the subject: and an illustration I did to illustrate my point. ;)
If you go outside at night, Underface
After the world has gone to sleep,
You can hear the planet sigh, Underneath my outside face
Under the secret it can't keep, There's a face that none can see.
And the wind sings different tunes, A little less smiley,
To all the ones you hear by day, A little less sure,
As though it's choking on the words, But a whole lot more like me.
That we're all too afraid to say,
And I wonder at the problems, -Shel Silverstein
We've tried to melt inside it's core,
Whether it's packed so close to bursting,
That it can't hold many more,
For how can we see it's weakness,
When we've not known something so strong,
And if it weeps and we can't hear it,
Does that mean there's nothing wrong?
-Unknown (can't find author but if anyone does lemme know)
Here is a poem by Stevie Smith about a man who put on a mask. I thought you might like it!
ReplyDeleteNobody heard him, the dead man,
But still he lay moaning:
I was much further out than you thought
And not waving but drowning.
Poor chap, he always loved larking
And now he’s dead
It must have been too cold for him his heart gave way,
They said.
Oh, no no no, it was too cold always
(Still the dead one lay moaning)
I was much too far out all my life
And not waving but drowning.
Hmm, that's a really intriguing poem. Thanks for sharing!! :)
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