The Face Behind the Mask
Safety lies in firm foundation
hiding eroded skin, the wrinkles
that bend around her mouth
Immeasurable moments of
yearning for time to stand still
Clots of inky mascara pebble
her lashes, yet she holds fast
to youthful illusion… every
new conquest a king, every bed
suppled by silk sheets
Then comes morning, mask
peels off to reveal clay skin
Lines that were hidden last
night; her flame of youth
doused by shivering reality
© 2013 Amy Barlow Liberatore/Sharp Little Pencil
For The Sunday Whirl (click the link to see the words) and also my poetic lilypad, Imaginary Garden With Real Toads, where Grapeling challenged us to write about masks. I’ll write more about this woman another day… and no, it’s not autobiographical! (Hell, I let it all show, just like my grey. I earned every wrinkle; in fact, some have names!) Peace, Amy
Sharp Little Pencil 
Ribbons Undone
I want my “flame of youth” back, except I don’t want all the stupidity I had returned to me.
margaret
… I could relate once upon a time, I suppose. Just too shy to remove makeup… but now, I can’t ever go to bed without it off my face. “firm foundation”… even the expensive kind don’t make it through to morning 😛
http://vivinfrance.wordpress.com
A brilliant wordle portrait. Not a bit like my vision of you! And no, I don’t wear make-up, and the grey is now white.
grapeling
750! Very cool, Amy.
Just came from Margaret’s write on Marilyn Monroe, the beauty who eluded age by being reaped while still relatively young. Your write speaks to so many women, especially here in “the OC” – like at the art museum opening I attended last night. It underpins our fateful and unhealthy fascination with the appearance of youth, and our collective disregard and indeed disdain for aging. We hide away the lines that demonstrate our wisdom – we mask ourselves from not the ravages of time, but from its inevitability. Age is not shameful until we make it so.
Thanks for sharing in the challenge, Amy ~ M
mybeautfulthings
I’ve never worn make up, too much trouble from start to finish I need to get going in the mornings! My face is my face! 🙂
Roger Green
Yes, 750. Yes, beautiful, older people without the masks.
oldegg
It is a shallow man that marvels at a plastered face.
opalzushaquon
Used to be that I would never go out of the house without makeup on and hair done. Now I throw on a headband and I haven’t worn makeup in years. The times do change!
I’ve been watching “Gossip Girl” on Netflix with my cousin. This poem sounds like a “Gossip Girl” reunion special, some 30 years down the road!
deanabo
I absolutely love this. Very good job depicting growing old.
Tracy Crenshaw
This poem struck a chord with me. Even though I try not to fall victim to vanity, there are still moments when I look in the mirror and groan over the signs of time showing on my face. I like to think all women have these moments. As long as they don’t become our obsession :0) Really lovely write!
Marian
nice word, “suppled.” love that.
Sherry Blue Sky
I liked the word “suppled” too. I’m with you – letting it all hang out is easier and actually more attractive than trying to hide it with make-up:)
Sara v
Excellent write Amy! As always right at the heart of things–vanity is a tough one to let go, but I know that no mask is going to hide that gravitational slide of skin…Got to let what’s within, shine 😉 (which you do brilliantly!)
daphnepurpus
Excellent and we all have the masks, make-up or otherwise. Well wordled!
hedgewitch
Couldn’t agree more with your note at the bottom–and your poem nails it, you can run, but you can’t hide. Sharp and spot-on, Amy.
charliezero1.wordpress.com
Then comes morning, mask
peels off to reveal clay skin
Lines that were hidden last
night; her flame of youth
doused by shivering reality
============================================
Everything in this poem speaks truth from beginning, middle, and end.
Mind blowing! and powerful imagery you possess. I love this poem of yours. 🙂
Irene
Thoughtful portrait. I rather think we all need a mask not so much to hide our true face but to *enhance* it.
laughwithme45
I guess whoever the “she” is didn’t care to much for the revelations of the morning! Hope there is a follow up to this poem with more about her!
Heaven (@ScarletVerses)
I specially like that ending verse ~ So true, eye catches us one way or another ~ What a shivering reality ~
Kay, Alberta, Canada
Well said, Amy. I was never one to wear much more than a dash of lipstick and “racing stripes” of blush, maybe do my eyes for an occasional big evening out, but now I can’t do more that lipstick because I can’t see my face when it’s close to a mirror…cataract surgery, not plastic surgery.
K
jae rose
Ah but is youth behind the face..as well as the face itself! I think we get fixed in the time that is ours – (haven’t found mine yet)..maybe that time no matter the number is youthfulness..maybe 40 will be good! 😉
Sabra Bowers
I now face the world without makeup and allow my hair to have its grey. Great poem. It speaks for many, I’m sure.
purplepeninportland
Mornings can be brutal, can’t they?