A Version of Me

A poem about the masks we all wear

Image: Valeriia Miller via Unsplash+

I am who I want you to see,
A persona, a version of me.
Painted in vibrant hues for your eyes,
Pain and trauma hiding in disguise. 

On the outside, I look stable,
Like a perfectly set table.
A carefully built construction,
That falters under deduction. 

Inside, it’s all a mess,
Eroded by pain and stress,
Crashing waves pull me down,
And in those depths, I drown. 

A profile picture is what you see, 
Tailored made, but that's not me. 
There's a person underneath that veneer,
One who's afraid to let anyone near. 

We all wear masks each day,
It’s how we survive the fray.
But mine is full of cracks,
Where life has left painful tracks. 

I need to face the music now,
This poem is my solemn vow.
I use this power on you,
But for us, I must be true. 

No more hiding in shadows,
I’m turning away from the gallows.
This is me, face bathed in light,
Begging you to hear my plight. 

You taught me to slay my demons,
At my side through winter seasons.
You walked beside me on broken glass,
Promising me that this too shall pass. 

My love, I’m ready to show
A side of me I barely know.
No more false versions of me,
Arms wide, soul finally free. 

I needed you to realize this,
My soul was saved by your kiss.
I know now that the die has not been cast,
And that version of me has long since passed. 

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Thanks for Reading! Here’s Your Musical Pairing

Listen to this track after reading, like how you pair a glass of wine with dinner.