Exaggrated mannerisms that
Can’t disguise the inner-pain and fears felt,
Likened to an actress learning their vast role, and their true
Identity almost obscured - do you know who you are?
‘Passing’ in the crowd - cowering behind closed doors, yet
Suppression rules as her appearances require upkeep,
Eager to find herself under decades of secret layers, but not just yet..
Written for the Vocal ‘In Eclipse’ challenge, 2024
Quick Note: Pretty self-explanatory, yet I was thinking about how people sometimes find themselves presenting a new idealised version of themselves to the world on the daily rather than doing any ‘inner-work’. I guess I’ve been guilty of this in the past due to a few factors in my life and my old workplace etc. We want to fit in and be confident & resilient and all that, but sometimes it goes a few steps too far and one might lose sight of who they really are on a core level.
Obscuring one’s identity through “the in eclipse” seems to be a relevant metaphor. It can also be jarring when someone we care about changes quite dramatically through time and social pressures - have they really changed or just been temporarily eclipsed? Yet, like AI often discussed on here in writing, most of us too respond far more deeply to the jagged souls, the wandering nomads and the beautifully imperfect authenticity of selves.
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About the Creator
Grz Colm
Film and TV reviews, 🎞 as well as short stories and free verse poems.
Comments (15)
Another great acrostic poem. Liked ‘ Eager to find herself under decades of secret layers, but not just yet..’ It’s less exhausting just to be ourselves, than who others want us to be.
Hey, how are you. I feel eclipsed right now. But that is ok, knowing oneself is what is important. I hope all is well with you and you have not been eclipsed by all of the ins and outs of life. Great poem.
A lot of truth there and your author's note was an ideal touch.
Awesome metaphor for Eclipse! This was definitely thought-provoking. When you said, "do you know who you are?" I was like..."hmmm, I think so?!" LOL. I appreciated the afterward very much as well. Society really takes a toll on the mind this day and age.
Loved this. As a woman STILL working on herself aged mid-forties! 😃
Doing the inside work is a difficult journey...much easier to put on a new face for the world.
Well-wrought! Especially loved your willingness to share a deeper insight as an afterword! Society is a labyrinth of mirrors designed to trap the soul... so to speak. We are triangulated into roles, and many of us are greedy to accept them rather than do the inner work, because, naturally, it's easier... in the short term. I have come to think of it this way: the hive mind won't save us from the pecking order. The pecking order won't save one from the self. Experience taught me where theory is lacking in this regard... especially social theory, which is often ironically self-serving to any respective "expert". Again, loved this piece!
Maybe sometimes, we can't always fake it till we make it. Your Acrostic was so profound and thought provoking. Awesome work, G!
Great concept and exploration of an eclipse definition! The “I” line was gripping!
This brought to my mind a couple of Lynch's films. It's hard to be an act(or/ress), truly.
Brilliantly written and loved your acrostic poem!!!💕❤️❤️
I have learnt to be more authentically myself at work over the years (I mean, not FULLY, no one wants me to just go on and on and on about where I would rather be) but I do think for many of us its something that gets easier to do as we get older.
Wonderful entry, and so true. Well done.
Great job Grz!!! Much like an eclipse our inner self is sometimes overshadowed by our appearance - excellent analogy!!!
Another incredible entry, pal. Bloody good work, really!