Despite The Mask Poem by Teresa Wright

Ethereal feline femininity
Awakens from a consecrated nightmare...

How many were you,
who had dragged her there?
Her blossoming female form
enveloped by the veil of sinister judgment
lacking expression, lacking vindication
thrust into the festering mire
of your perverted paranoia.

How many were you,
who sheltered her development?
her potential charred by the mask
affixed to her splendor,
fearing nothing but your own
insipid limitations.

In denying her the radiance of insight
and fitting her with the tethers of control
endeavoring to compel shame's escalation
bottomless in the poisoned well
of ill repute.
With spite you waited for maturity
to deliver her ripe, yet vacant:
to slay this frightening lamb
for sacrifice - for sport!

Might as well take that second gawk,
let your jaw drop limp once again
then shake it off - you've failed!

Really, is it so surprising
to see her step out of the dark?
(where faceless shadows were
expected to hide the lustrous
loveliness that swelling muscle
painted with fine feature upon her frame)

Emerged, paused and poised
to walk with dignity
stripped of façade
into a world of opportunity
where her self-directed purpose
stimulated by self-respect
will lay to rest your insidious, priggish
piously putrid principles.

See that hand, relaxed
against the wall you put up,
See how the shadows fall away,
lightly mocking, exuding the confidence
deeply, dogmatically dreaded.

So there she is, tolerantly ahead
of you, irrefutably bare
every faultless curve reflecting
her command, despite the burden
of your tainted, tarnished mask.