Some Masking Poetry

Gearing up creatively for Halloween, in tonight's poetry workshop the topic of masks was used as a prompt. For all you little poets out there, fresh from Tom and Campion, the idea is to write a poem/story/draw a picture/do whatever based on the sentence, "Tonight for Halloween I came disguised as myself."

I know. I know. There's easily a lot of cynicism there. But it's still a fun idea to explore. We all wear masks. We all show people sides of ourselves, or downplay various aspects of our identities. A mask can be a measure of safety and security. Or a tool to hide the evil, squid-baby beast within. Why do we wear these masks? Who do we wear them for? So for those of you from workshop, regular readers of the blog, or just random passersby on the Internet, there's your prompt. Show us all something creative based on the concept of masks. Feel free to post links, poems, fiction, images, and videos in the comments below.




As for myself, I tried my hand at a couple of poems. Here's the better one I liked.




The Mask










Is this thing on right?

Which way is supposed to be concave?

We can see each other through the eyes,

can’t we?

I’m not even sure if it’s one mask or a few.

Just a quick test.

Do you guys see a reclusive, paranoid, sad man in a quiet
cubicle

slouched toward his ever encroaching middle age

with an overwhelming stack of incomplete goals filed just
beneath

the inbox stuffed fat with extensive failures?

Or

do you see more of an easily amused, mild mannered lunatic that’s kicking
at the waves, rolling,

playing in the choppy waters of unreserved –whatever you
please- and splashing around

his own little world while sharing some of its undiluted foolishness with yours?

Hmm.

If I press the lips do they purse or bite down on
themselves?

I’ve had this on so long.

Stop staring until I find a way to wear it

so we both like what we see.