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peterdawes — The Truth of Who We Are
by-nc-nd
Published: 2008-09-27 14:59:22 +0000 UTC; Views: 545; Favourites: 11; Downloads: 7
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Description
i would melt this body of waxjust to loose the other side of me.
sometimes i wonder
if the marrow to my bones contains
all the instructions of the being that should be.
if when the master builders formed the structure,
the make and form of me,
the exterior that they fashioned
only serves to mock the soul that burns
and the heart that beats inside my chest.
place me in the crucible
and i will come alight with fire.
who would refuse the chance to shed the masks?
to strip away the paint and all the
wallpaper placed atop these walls
to show the truth of plaster and beams and mortar.
i wish that i could peel away the surface
because the truth is so much different than the farce.
you're the only one who sees the truth.
hush now, or you'll spoil the ruse, i tell myself.
humanity was formed with glue and clay
to mold the form of expectations,
what they are conditioned to see when they look
inside my eyes or what they want to see, perhaps.
nobody wants to know the darkness that
resides beneath the sainted smile.
these constructs frustrate me.
the world in all its wonder cannot explain to me
why the truth of who we are
must constantly be tethered to the floorboards.
this soul has wings that wish to take flight.
just like an eagle, soaring to the edge of heaven.
the world with all its rules confines me.
some of them are mantras that i've spoken
a hundred times with strong conviction.
but now i see the lies for what they are.
and i want you to continue to be the one
who is not fooled by what exists on the outside,
but knows the heart and memorizes its pulse,
the steady cadence of the one who lurks in shadows.
you see my darkness and
my darkness finds salvation in you.
you see the visceral reality in all his glory.
you see the swagger and you are not fooled.
you are not deceived by rough-hewn passion
or the acid tongue that flails words like poison
and wears intimidation like a coat.
he drinks from you like a traveler
starved for water in the desert.
he finds a voice in you and you are not afraid.
come to me now and help the demon
learn how to paint in shades of gray.
instead of black and white realities
inside the artificial constructs
the world around him tries to force him in
as though we were all a tightly-wrapped package
only sitting back, waiting for a bow.
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Comments: 25
A very astounding and beautiful poem - such imagery, it's so rich and soul-searching, ... unbelievable!!
This one also reminds me very much of a manga I am reading, called Vampire Doll. Essentially, it's about an ancient vampire lord who was sealed into a cross and resurrected later into the body of a female doll. He comes to find (being bound like he is) that living isn't all war and chaos, and dark things ruling the living - that it's a cycle of life, rich and full of new changes and twists each day, and that cherishing those near you is the most valuable lesson of life. In my opinion, a lovely (and comical) manga, and a very beautiful and elegant poem here!! I love it! 
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you see my darkness and
my darkness finds salvation in you.
LOVE that line. Only, I would spell it "darcness" 
This is really well done Peter.
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it's not often that i'm renderred speechless, peter - but you seem to do an amazing job at taking my words away.
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You're quite welcome, dear.
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another amazing piece of writing
'who would refuse the chance to shed the masks?
to strip away the paint and all the
wallpaper placed atop these walls
to show the truth of plaster and beams and mortar.
i wish that i could peel away the surface
because the truth is so much different than the farce.
you're the only one who sees the truth.
hush now, or you'll spoil the ruse, i tell myself.'
reading this sent shivers up mine spine, mainly because it rings so true to myself personally, which in itself is a little scary. but no one is perfect so to a certain point, maybe everyone feels like this at some point in their life. but having someone who knows the real you, not the person you pretend to be, not the mask that other people see, but the real you, that makes everything a little easier, finding that person is the not so easy part. if only all of us could be that lucky to find that person
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"but having someone who knows the real you, not the person you pretend to be, not the mask that other people see, but the real you, that makes everything a little easier"
i could not agree more. especially when the truth is not the pretty, perfect picture everybody usually wishes to see.
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i have stopped trying to see the perfect picture, i realised a long time ago that perfection doesnt really exist. we can come close to finding perfection, but never really hold it in our hands. yet some people are yet to realise that. we are flawed and its better to admit it than lie to ourselves and others about who we really are
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You. Are. Amazing.
Never stop writing, Peter.
I think this poem relates to every single person in the history of humanity - and if not, then he or she must be quite the character.
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we all have our masks, don't we?
thank you very kindly. 
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O my goodness! That was spectacular I think my heart just exploded! I have only read two things in my life that have made my jaw drop and body fall numb. And this was one of the two things that did that. I was lost in your words and actually didn't want to come out of them, but I had to in order to tell you how incredible this piece is!
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oh heavens, i certainly hope your heart did not explode. that would be quite messy.
thank you very kindly. what high praise. i am absolutely flattered.
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Haha your very welcome I absolutley loved it and thought that I may as tell you how good it was.
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sometimes i wonder
if the marrow to my bones contains
all the instructions of the being that should be.
stunning
xo!
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thank you kindly, shane.
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"who would refuse the chance to shed the masks?
to strip away the paint and all the
wallpaper placed atop these walls
to show the truth of plaster and beams and mortar.
i wish that i could peel away the surface
because the truth is so much different than the farce."
My sentiments exactly.
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isn't that always the way of things?
we wear the masks that hide the truth
while desperate to claw them off
in the next breath.
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Yes, and it's a cruel way at that.
I love who I am at heart
but I just wish that I could burn away the outside
and make a new one for myself, and I am most sure
that I'm not the only one who houses these intentions.
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Wow, I think I stopped breathing half way through. Amazing
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i am glad you enjoyed it.
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