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This Mask

Sean Taylor 1968 (Georgia)

Free verse
I wear this mask
Of religious trappings
Dos and don’ts
Control my actions
Others’ attitudes
Form my beliefs
Fear of separation
Binds my limits

Oh, to thrust this mask
To the ground, smashing
All the plaster
That binds my smile
And keeps me
From the one
I should truly be—
Open to love
Temptation
Crawling from hind to front
Crouching, paws inching slowly
Onward to prey—unaware
Of the danger behind

Upon unwitting prey
He springs, surprise, finding
The hunted dart for safety
To a larger presence.
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Written on 1992

Submitted by seanhtaylor on December 08, 2023

Modified by seanhtaylor on December 08, 2023

27 sec read
4

Quick analysis:

Scheme ABBXXXCX ADXXECEXCXEXX XDEX
Closest metre Iambic dimeter
Characters 509
Words 90
Stanzas 3
Stanza Lengths 8, 13, 4
Full analysis for This Mask »

Sean Taylor

Sean Taylor writes short stories, novellas, novels, graphic novels and comic books (yes, Virginia, there is a difference between comic books and graphic novels, just like there's a difference between a short story and a novel). In his writing life, he has directed the “lives” of zombies, super heroes, goddesses, dominatrices, Bad Girls, pulp heroes, and yes, even frogs, for such diverse bosses as IDW Publishing, Gene Simmons, and The Oxygen Network. He also posts religious and political content from time to time. But not nearly as much as writing content. Between horror movies and cartoons, that is. Visit him online at www.thetaylorverse.com and www.badgirlsgoodguys.com (or follow his faith blog at www.filthyragsanddirtycups.blogspot.com). [He, Him] more…

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    "This Mask" Poetry.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 28 Apr. 2024. <https://www.poetry.com/poem/175778/this-mask>.

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