i lie awake
beneath the layers
of my circumstance
undiscovered.
shadows of the past
rendered over me
in chiaroscuro.
where am "I"?
i must see the world
as filtered through these veils
that are so close.
i must see myself
as filtered through these veils.
if i bring tooth and nail
against complacency
could some unknown creature emerge
from beneath my education?
my upbringing?
or am I but a shadow?
someday i mean to stand
before a silver mirror
truly naked
but i lie awake in fear
of seeing nothing.
Author notes
http://bittertaste.deviantart.com/art/come-down-master-6271497
The image and the lyrics brought to my mind existential questions - how much of who I think "I" am is really but an artificial construct produced or controlled by exterior influences? At the risk of being too obvious, if I am a puppet from who or what am I strung? If I peel away the layers society imposed upon me, what would I find beneath? Fear of being nothing - thus fear of seeing the truth.
p.s. i included the link to the art and the contest. i wanted to include the actual image on this page, but couldn't figure out how. 
A contest entry
- Prompted [is it any wonder why i'm scared?] by Never Fall in Love.
400 points, ended September 10, 15 entries
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest
What did you think
Comments
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I really like the concept of this write and how it's very different from what would normally be interpretated from the picture. However, I feel that this is too stiff emotion-wise and that it could be helped by more imagery. Like, what kind of layers are there and what would the creature look like? Just some ideas I think could help.
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this poem was amazing. it has so much truth to it. i think that everyone whether or not they like to admit it, feels like they will be or see nothing if they really take the time to look at who they really are. at who they have become. good job
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