Beneath the lacquer
the thin layer of shiny
the glossy
the new
and defined by such
Beautiful
and untouched
Kept up
Ready for the mounting
behind windexed glass
on top of polished wood
we are placed
Our chiseled bodies
Our coated faces
Shown off
Replaced
Look not at the grain underneath
Developed years of lines
The etching away of knots
and unusable ugliness
Acknowledge not the sanding away
The shaving of circle into square
Sandblasted and primed
into the newly socially acceptable
Illusion and delusion
Better and best
How we shine
from over there
above the fireplace
on the mantle
Brought out
Dusted off
Misplaced
We are just beneath the surface
desperately wanting to get out
To burn it away, this gloss
To melt it away, this façade
To say something, anything
To voice an opinion
Right or wrong
Good and bad
Different, yet same
To say, “I’m here”
I am here.
i so know what you mean! i read this and thought, i have felt exactly this at certain times in my life. i like the final line especially. x
ReplyDeleteGreat poem! You write so beautifully and with an hones tone. My favorite part is when you said, "We are just beneath the surface desperately wanting to get out." That statement is so true.
ReplyDeleteI have seen and known people like this--polished and put on display for others and for themselves too--and I always wonder about what is underneath. Good response to the prompt.
ReplyDeleteExcellent poem. Two-faced people and those who are simply a veneer and very false. We never really know who they are...
ReplyDeleteEileen
"I'm here. I am here." Yes, this is why we write! Loved this!
ReplyDeleteWell, I was going to comment on the same thing that Sherry did. So I will just add a 'ditto' to her comment! Nice to see you again here at Poets United.
ReplyDeleteHonest, beautiful writing.
ReplyDeleteGinger this is achingly honest and beautiful writing!!
ReplyDeleteThis is wonderful! I love the depth of your words and the insight we gain as we go from circle to square! Well Done
ReplyDelete