Free verse № 37818
The Other Side of Me
I knew a man,
a sweet talker whose busy lips
formed honey-coated words
of much charm and wit;
resembling a candidate.
A tempter who could speak
without debate,
his opinions most convincingly.
How he would talk--on and on
incessantly,
as women gossip over tea,
with fabricated sincerity.
Only a facade reflected--
erected for others to see.
But inside, hidden from view,
lived a recluse wishing
to live in anonymity.
His other self
who would not reveal
thoughts or dreams,
nor words that stood in truth
upon that which he believed--
in secrecy conceived.
We each share a dual side,
an unknown state
residing deep inside, where
neurons croon a separate tune.
A life that lives inside a mind;
the esoteric--private kind,
impervious to scrutiny.
I am the one unseen,
not who I pretend to be--
the cryptic other side of me.
My real life led--inside my head,
in self-imposed obscurity.
10 comments
and am pleased you liked it. My other side thinks I
revealed too much but he has always been rather paranoid:)
can relate to the "other side" though I was not
sure I conveyed this adequately. I guess for some,
I did.
later. Then again, maybe I should reverse that. I never
could save the best for last.
of mine. Seems hard to believe it was written in 1951.
Where has all the time gone?
this is the weakest point:
~
A tempter who could speak
without debate,
his opinions most convincingly.
How he would talk--on and on
incessantly,
~
ironically, the language is not convincing.
i particularly like the way you begin this poem--as though your mask is a stranger. it does feel that way, at times. remember that you are the fabricator and the fabricatee.
perhaps old age, and wisdom help us meld the two.
i will not rank until you convince me. nice effort.
too much but I did wish to convey strongly his opinionated
side which is not really how he feels and thinks inside.
A tempter whose words are strewn about profusely and give the
apearance of deep felt meaning and conviction where there is
none... .In saying "without debate", I meant beyond rebuttal
or reproach and the irony of his words being untrue to his
other self while being perceived as sincere and genuine by
those he "charms" with "honey-coated words." ....Hope this
helps and I too suspect a melding as one grows older and
more introspective. Thanks for your comments and I may make
some minor changes tho not sure.
Log in to add a comment.