Unmasking
A poem
Words held hands, the poet stringed them together on my fingertips; lacing the soul's neck, they move with the breath traversing the aching throat.
My sweet destiny had the color of your eyes, the fragrance of your closeness, the feather in your touch! Reveries lend a convenient oblivion to the dearth in my being...
A faded mask on the ground sleeps through the million feet stepping around it.
The eye-holes glare, rightfully empty - blindness is a rare comfort in this age.
The ghastly fixed grin for a mouth – the crux of the abandoned mask of a wilted soul.
*** All the world's a stage, said melancholy Jaques — I care not of the rest, or of the players, but of their painted masks — the more you unmask the more you're on your way...
© Sana Rose 2020
Written on June 9th, 2016, this poem was chosen from many submissions to an Indian anthology of poetry based on Shakespeare’s works or characters.
Sana Rose is an award-nominated novelist, poet, physician, counseling professional, freelance writer and mom. She is based out of Kerala, India. Her debut novel ‘Sandcastles’ was shortlisted for ARL Literary Awards 2018 for Best Author soon after publication.