Somehow I knew his mask was porcelain –
impossible to hide the soul’s light
reflected in troubled eyes…
I played along though,
humoured his self-deception
nodded at assertions of calm
Knew that one day the facade would crack
the mask would slip and the rage escape
Why I didn’t run; I do not know
Maybe it was recognition –
my own countenance a carefully construed lie
Maybe I needed to prove to myself
that no matter how violent his storm
this time I would emerge triumphant.
(Poem inspired by Sadje’s What Do You See image prompt.)
One Woman's Quest 