Lady in a mask, painting by Felice Boscaratti‘Who Is Behind Your Mask’: A Poem by Roy E. Peterson The Society April 30, 2023 Culture, Poetry 15 Comments . Who Is Behind Your Mask Now some of my friends, who put on a good show, Are brave in the face of their fears, this I know. The burdens of life they are striving to hide, So what are the things they are feeling inside? One time they are happy, one time they act strange. We call them out, “Moody!” but they never change. The happy face may be a mask for the day, But deep down inside they’re not feeling okay. The world is composed of such precious sad souls Who feel without hope, and adrift without goals. The mask that they wear is what they seem to be; The mask hides from us what they worry we’ll see. Some things you should definitely keep from the crowd, After all it is healthy to hold your head proud. I have a good offer that some may think bolder. Just tell me your worries and cry on my shoulder. I really do care about all of my friends, With trust as the anchor on which one depends. So pardon me, friend, but now I’d like to ask, Just who is the person behind your mood mask? . . LTC Roy E. Peterson, US Army Military Intelligence and Russian Foreign Area Officer (Retired) has published more than 5,000 poems in 78 of his 101 books. He has been an Army Attaché in Moscow, Commander of INF Portal Monitoring in Votkinsk, first US Foreign Commercial Officer in Vladivostok, Russia and Regional Manager in the Russian Far East for IBM. He holds a BA, Hardin-Simmons University (Political Science); MA, University of Arizona (Political Science); MA, University of Southern California (Int. Relations) and MBA University of Phoenix. He taught at the University of Arizona, Western New Mexico University, University of Maryland, Travel University and the University of Phoenix. NOTE TO READERS: If you enjoyed this poem or other content, please consider making a donation to the Society of Classical Poets. The Society of Classical Poets does not endorse any views expressed in individual poems or commentary. CODEC Stories:Share this:Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)Click to print (Opens in new window)Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window)Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window) 15 Responses Russel Winick April 30, 2023 Roy – thank you for this excellent poem about a truly universal topic. Reply Roy Eugene Peterson April 30, 2023 Thank you, Russel. Reply James Sale April 30, 2023 The false self-image, Roy: the quest of our life (or one way of expressing it is) is to narrow the gap between the false self-image (aka mask) we project to others (and if it’s chronic, to ourselves, so we end up believing the lie) and the soul (aka, our true self) which is the source of all creativity and truth within us. Consistency (especially of mood) is a sign of that narrowing, of that maturity, of that building of true character. Indeed, when we think of great leaders and great people we know, one quality of a great person is always that they are consistent – in their treatment of us and of others. Nice idea, well explored. Reply Roy Eugene Peterson April 30, 2023 You expressed so well the various “false self-images that so many people have and project. Maturity is indeed expressed by being ourselves and projecting that image consistently. Excellent insight, as always! Reply Margaret Coats April 30, 2023 Roy, your jauntily metered poem gently inquires into the state of “precious sad souls” who have a real need for human interaction not mediated by a “mood mask.” You also recognize that there are things “to keep from the crowd.” It is rarely useful to reveal past misdeeds if one is already taking measures to prevent recurrence, or to say anything to the detriment of another, except to a responsible person with a need to know. That still leaves a very broad field in which friends can supply support of immeasurable value, if not distanced by a mask. Reply Roy Eugene Peterson April 30, 2023 Removing the mask to our friends is often crucial to our well-being as you have expressed. Masks pose the risk of removal at the worst possible time, still, as you have discerned, each of us has a right to protect ourselves. That you for the kind comments and excellent thoughts! Reply Brian A Yapko April 30, 2023 Roy, this poem reveals a generous hearted speaker who knows what lies beneath the surface of the “everything’s fine” that people say even when they don’t mean it. Masks, I suppose, are an essential aspect of getting along in social situations, but they have a time and a place and they can definitely be destructive. Your beautiful poem keenly observes what true friendship is about: love and compassion with trust as the anchor. Reply Roy Eugene Peterson May 1, 2023 Thank you for your kind comments and your observations about true friendship. Trust at least allows us to remove our masks to our inner circle of friends and relatives. Reply Janice Canerdy May 1, 2023 Roy, your skillfully-written poem expresses an insightful, compassionate attitude toward mask-wearers, offering a shoulder . . . I think some people are oblivious to others’ struggles–and their “masks”–because they’re consumed with keeping their own in place. Reply Roy Eugene Peterson May 1, 2023 Thank you for the precious comment! You are so right. We need to be more aware of the struggles of others and realize there is more behind their masks. Reply Roy Eugene Peterson May 1, 2023 Administrators, please remove this comment. I misplaced it and clicked it before I had a chance to realize its placement and word error. Reply Susan Jarvis Bryant May 2, 2023 Roy, what an insightful and beautiful poem. I am sure many wear that stiff-upper-lip or smiley mask because they don’t want reveal sadness perceived as weakness. I am sure many wear such a mask hoping their frown will become the smile that’s painted on their face. Some only take their mask off with those they trust with their hearts… that’s why I love your closing couplet… it’s full of love and wisdom. Reply Patricia Allred May 4, 2023 Roy, I see you have a compassion for others pain, which is commendable. I have haf the good fortune to be with many who understand, that being other who we are, rips them off of a genuine relationship, while we or they, pretend to be who they are noyR. In essence,… it is akin being with a fraud. Great verses from an undersyzngimh mam! Reply Patricia Allred May 4, 2023 Roy, I have poor vision. Excuse errors. I always look like a fool when I post. Gray print on gray background does not work for me. I beg your forgiveness. I can see well at poetry sites having a white background with black print, I have posted 3100 poems at another site and commented endlessly for five.years. I wear no mask. This is so frustrating! Apologies, …..P.A,… Reply Roy Eugene Peterson May 6, 2023 Bless your heart, Patricia, and thank you for the comments! Reply Leave a Reply Cancel ReplyYour email address will not be published.CommentName* Email* Website Captcha loading...In order to pass the CAPTCHA please enable JavaScript. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. 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Russel Winick April 30, 2023 Roy – thank you for this excellent poem about a truly universal topic. Reply
James Sale April 30, 2023 The false self-image, Roy: the quest of our life (or one way of expressing it is) is to narrow the gap between the false self-image (aka mask) we project to others (and if it’s chronic, to ourselves, so we end up believing the lie) and the soul (aka, our true self) which is the source of all creativity and truth within us. Consistency (especially of mood) is a sign of that narrowing, of that maturity, of that building of true character. Indeed, when we think of great leaders and great people we know, one quality of a great person is always that they are consistent – in their treatment of us and of others. Nice idea, well explored. Reply
Roy Eugene Peterson April 30, 2023 You expressed so well the various “false self-images that so many people have and project. Maturity is indeed expressed by being ourselves and projecting that image consistently. Excellent insight, as always! Reply
Margaret Coats April 30, 2023 Roy, your jauntily metered poem gently inquires into the state of “precious sad souls” who have a real need for human interaction not mediated by a “mood mask.” You also recognize that there are things “to keep from the crowd.” It is rarely useful to reveal past misdeeds if one is already taking measures to prevent recurrence, or to say anything to the detriment of another, except to a responsible person with a need to know. That still leaves a very broad field in which friends can supply support of immeasurable value, if not distanced by a mask. Reply
Roy Eugene Peterson April 30, 2023 Removing the mask to our friends is often crucial to our well-being as you have expressed. Masks pose the risk of removal at the worst possible time, still, as you have discerned, each of us has a right to protect ourselves. That you for the kind comments and excellent thoughts! Reply
Brian A Yapko April 30, 2023 Roy, this poem reveals a generous hearted speaker who knows what lies beneath the surface of the “everything’s fine” that people say even when they don’t mean it. Masks, I suppose, are an essential aspect of getting along in social situations, but they have a time and a place and they can definitely be destructive. Your beautiful poem keenly observes what true friendship is about: love and compassion with trust as the anchor. Reply
Roy Eugene Peterson May 1, 2023 Thank you for your kind comments and your observations about true friendship. Trust at least allows us to remove our masks to our inner circle of friends and relatives. Reply
Janice Canerdy May 1, 2023 Roy, your skillfully-written poem expresses an insightful, compassionate attitude toward mask-wearers, offering a shoulder . . . I think some people are oblivious to others’ struggles–and their “masks”–because they’re consumed with keeping their own in place. Reply
Roy Eugene Peterson May 1, 2023 Thank you for the precious comment! You are so right. We need to be more aware of the struggles of others and realize there is more behind their masks. Reply
Roy Eugene Peterson May 1, 2023 Administrators, please remove this comment. I misplaced it and clicked it before I had a chance to realize its placement and word error. Reply
Susan Jarvis Bryant May 2, 2023 Roy, what an insightful and beautiful poem. I am sure many wear that stiff-upper-lip or smiley mask because they don’t want reveal sadness perceived as weakness. I am sure many wear such a mask hoping their frown will become the smile that’s painted on their face. Some only take their mask off with those they trust with their hearts… that’s why I love your closing couplet… it’s full of love and wisdom. Reply
Patricia Allred May 4, 2023 Roy, I see you have a compassion for others pain, which is commendable. I have haf the good fortune to be with many who understand, that being other who we are, rips them off of a genuine relationship, while we or they, pretend to be who they are noyR. In essence,… it is akin being with a fraud. Great verses from an undersyzngimh mam! Reply
Patricia Allred May 4, 2023 Roy, I have poor vision. Excuse errors. I always look like a fool when I post. Gray print on gray background does not work for me. I beg your forgiveness. I can see well at poetry sites having a white background with black print, I have posted 3100 poems at another site and commented endlessly for five.years. I wear no mask. This is so frustrating! Apologies, …..P.A,… Reply
