The Social Mask - Them and Their Ways: An Argumentative Poem
The social script that often refuses to be edited.
Someone looks into the mirror,
Puts on the blush of expression,
Concealing authenticity.
The lotion of smooth social dexterity.
The eyeliner of warm eyes
that wants to look away for sometime.
The lip balm of smooth talking
and clever rhetoric
that rings hollow
to ears scanning not for noise
but meaning.
Someone looks into the mirror,
Wears the overcoat of space,
Social space,
More room, more gossip,
More warmth skin deep.
Wears shoes smart and big,
The tap of each step -
louder and faster
than each one before.
Their sound is sounding toward spaces
far and many,
Where many such boots come,
Week after week,
Year after year,
But same is the noise,
Same are the behind-door whispers.
Wears the classy watch
that warns of time ticking away.
But its hands are never seen.
Only the gold is,
The sparkling shine.
Someone looks into the mirror,
The mouth wants to say more
but practices "How are you?"
each time.
It moves naturally
but the muscles are tense.
The shoulder pulls itself back,
Straight and strong,
But it shivers.
It wants to loosen
and coil into self-comfort.
The nose is immune
to perfume scents many,
But it wants
to breathe
the smell of its own skin.
That Someone is ready -
almost ready,
As always.
But it's for "all" and "most",
To cater to them and their ways,
But not ready for itself.
Herself,
Himself,
Themselves.
That Someone walks away,
Tense,
Uncomfortable,
Unprepared,
But lacks a choice.
Choices can be made only when given.
Or Someone can make up a choice of their own.
But what if this wanting
to "make up" is silenced?
Any attempt to
is labelled selfish.
This wanting
becomes that wanting
of "makeup",
"cover up".
The mirror remains.
It wishes for a genie
to appear
and grant it -
its wish.
Looking through people
because Someone hides it from it too.
Beyond the mask,
Beyond the facade.
The real "one",
Not "someone".
Gaurav Chandra Tuli
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