This...'Real' You Poem by Lawrence S. Pertillar

With hard work invested.
And sacrifices made.
I'm sure I am not the only one irritated,
By those who had skipped through life...
With masks to wear firmly in place,
To come one day face to face with reality.
And...
With fresh expectations.
But...
Without masquerading to have ended their charades.
To say...
'I haven't seen you in years.
What have you been doing with your life? '

Anyone within listening distance,
Hearing their pretentions...
Know comments made like these are lies.

And then, they do, become offended...
Like they did with it done,
When they pretended...
Not to know anyone,
Before they perceived success would not come...
To those they turned up noses to do,
When masquerading to charade and impress...
Had been the rage in 'those' days to pursue,
Now outdated like they have become too.

Where is your mask?

'MY mask? '

The one with the turned up nose.
As I recall you had many of those.
I've only seen a few.
This one you wear seems a natural fit.
But it makes me uncomfortable.
It makes me nervous and frightened of you too.
It makes me suspicious,
You are up to something evil to do.

'Why?
I'm just being 'me'.'

That's what I find frightening!
WHY?
Why now?
And why have you picked me,
To see this...
'Real' you?