The Tale of Two Faces

My observations:
She smirks- even with mask off
she dares show her face
And then I see her makeup
and wonder what lies beneath

I think I can guess
-That smirk would have gone away
-her eyes would dim some
-her sass might just diminish
revealing the scared girl within

©Vivian Zems

Poetry Pantry #398

NaPoWriMo-Day 8

Image: Adolph de Meyer (1927)
Advertisement for Elizabeth Arden Cosmetics
Fair Use

Vivian Zems

Mum, author and dentist is how I describe myself. I love creating pictures from words. Sometimes a painter, other times a weaver- words are my tool; trying to create something beautiful. When I was nine, my dad introduced me to audio books. I was hooked. With his guidance, I fell into a world where words became life simply by weaving them together. So here I am, living out my passion- reading and writing! Enjoy the ride with me 😁😁

Author archive Author website

April 8, 2018

Free verse poetry, NaPoWriMo April 2018, Poems

makeup, Mask, Napowrimo-day 8, Poets United, Reveal, secrets within, two faces

33 thoughts on “The Tale of Two Faces”

Add yours

kim881
April 8, 2018 at 11:17 am

Reply

I like the wordplay and the sound of the lines:
‘-her eyes would dim some
-her sass might just diminish’.

LikeLiked by 1 person

Reply
- Vivian Zems
  April 8, 2018 at 3:42 pm
  
  Reply
  
  Thanks Kim!
  
  LikeLiked by 1 person
  
  Reply
oldegg
April 8, 2018 at 11:36 am

Reply

Male or female we are only too aware of our weaknesses and think they show on our faces so women use makeup and men grow a beard or a moustache so somehow strengthen our appearance hoping we change, appear confident and assured. But we can’t hide for ever and eventually our true selves will show through in so many other ways.

LikeLiked by 1 person

Reply
- Vivian Zems
  April 8, 2018 at 3:41 pm
  
  Reply
  
  Thank you for saying that..I completely agree- the real ‘you’ comes out in the end.
  
  LikeLike
  
  Reply
Sherry Blue sky
April 8, 2018 at 12:50 pm

Reply

Ha, you have nailed it exactly. Perfect.

LikeLiked by 1 person

Reply
- Vivian Zems
  April 8, 2018 at 3:40 pm
  
  Reply
  
  Thanks Sherry😊 (please check your email)
  
  LikeLike
  
  Reply
Rommy
April 8, 2018 at 12:57 pm

Reply

Its true sass is sometimes used to conceal sensitive sentiments.

LikeLiked by 1 person

Reply
- Vivian Zems
  April 8, 2018 at 3:39 pm
  
  Reply
  
  I think so… always.
  
  LikeLike
  
  Reply
Mary
April 8, 2018 at 2:02 pm

Reply

Ah, sometimes we have to look beyond the surface to see the real person.

LikeLiked by 1 person

Reply
- Vivian Zems
  April 8, 2018 at 3:39 pm
  
  Reply
  
  Sadly so…
  
  LikeLike
  
  Reply
Donna@LivingFromHappiness
April 8, 2018 at 3:12 pm

Reply

Very interesting observations….we all have our masks don’t we!

LikeLiked by 1 person

Reply
- Vivian Zems
  April 8, 2018 at 3:37 pm
  
  Reply
  
  Hi Donna! Indeed we do!
  
  LikeLike
  
  Reply
jaerose37
April 8, 2018 at 4:29 pm

Reply

Wonderful poem

LikeLiked by 1 person

Reply
- Vivian Zems
  April 8, 2018 at 6:43 pm
  
  Reply
  
  Thank you 😊
  
  LikeLike
  
  Reply
Neeraj Khanka
April 8, 2018 at 7:23 pm

Reply

Indeed, there’s a mask we all use. Sometimes to con others and sometimes to protect ourselves.

LikeLiked by 1 person

Reply
- Vivian Zems
  April 8, 2018 at 8:04 pm
  
  Reply
  
  Indeed!
  
  LikeLike
  
  Reply
Myrna
April 8, 2018 at 7:32 pm

Reply

So nice when we can see the real person beneath the facade. Really good poem!

LikeLiked by 1 person

Reply
- Vivian Zems
  April 8, 2018 at 8:05 pm
  
  Reply
  
  Thanks Myrna! 😊
  
  LikeLike
  
  Reply
hypercryptical
April 8, 2018 at 9:29 pm

Reply

What lies beneath indeed.
I guess we all wear our ‘make-up’ in the face that we show,,,
Anna :o]

LikeLiked by 1 person

Reply
- Vivian Zems
  April 9, 2018 at 10:51 am
  
  Reply
  
  We all do- to some extent.
  
  LikeLike
  
  Reply
ZQ
April 8, 2018 at 10:01 pm

Reply

Awesome piece… as usual.

LikeLiked by 1 person

Reply
- Vivian Zems
  April 9, 2018 at 10:47 am
  
  Reply
  
  Thank you!😊
  
  LikeLike
  
  Reply
mhmp77
April 9, 2018 at 1:51 am

Reply

kaykuala

her sass might just diminish
revealing the scared girl within

It is ok if it gives the added confidence when masked!

Hank

LikeLiked by 1 person

Reply
- Vivian Zems
  April 9, 2018 at 10:43 am
  
  Reply
  
  Thanks Hanks. ..although what happens to the confidence when the looks go?
  
  LikeLike
  
  Reply
Sarah Russell
April 9, 2018 at 5:11 am

Reply

Yes! You captured her well, Vivian.

LikeLiked by 1 person

Reply
- Vivian Zems
  April 9, 2018 at 10:42 am
  
  Reply
  
  Thanks Sarah!
  
  LikeLike
  
  Reply
Susan
April 9, 2018 at 6:04 am

Reply

You strip the pretense off beatifully I prefer to meet people without their masks. Still, one gets the impression that she might be a skilled public speaker.

LikeLiked by 1 person

Reply
- Vivian Zems
  April 9, 2018 at 10:41 am
  
  Reply
  
  Thanks Susan! Who knows about her public speaking… her made up face certainly makes her look like she’s capable 😊
  
  LikeLike
  
  Reply
Rosemary Nissen-Wade
April 9, 2018 at 12:38 pm

Reply

Sobering!

LikeLiked by 1 person

Reply
- Vivian Zems
  April 9, 2018 at 5:51 pm
  
  Reply
  
  Indeed
  
  LikeLike
  
  Reply
Cressida
April 9, 2018 at 1:01 pm

Reply

Masks don’t really fool anyone. It’s the voice and delivery that counts.

LikeLiked by 1 person

Reply
- Vivian Zems
  April 9, 2018 at 5:46 pm
  
  Reply
  
  You might be right there.
  
  LikeLike
  
  Reply
magicalmysticalteacher
May 8, 2018 at 5:11 pm

Reply

What we see is not always what is actually there!

LikeLike

Reply