The Hero’s Face
April 14, 2009
This face you wear
With masks removed
And shadows visible for what they are
Its hero befriending a distant star
Has lines of truth
And scars well hidden
Between the lies of a given name
Who ventured to play life’s daring game
Tempting the heart, but wanting a soul
This face you wear
Has known its power
In stories tested by restless years
Its hero born of bitter sweat and sweetened tears
The scars of truth
And lies well hidden
Between the lines of a taken name
As all who breath partake life’s game
Temptation has danced on this soul
(Temptation dances on my soul)
This face you wear
It knows truth as lies,
Lies as roads walked in truth
Faith and fragment tried in knots
Woven into well dressed hymns
Written now as sweet repose
In lines this face has left exposed
A hero’s face left exposed
bkmackenzie
copyrighted 2009
April 14, 2009 at 7:36 pm
Comments Welcome -
April 15, 2009 at 7:50 am
I love this poem, and the picture is awesome. It makes me think of all the heroes I have. Many of them look like this man. They are often overlooked as heroes by society. But they are heroes.
There are so many lines here that are beautiful, excellent, and powerful!! The ending is just breathtaking. I am particularly struck by:
“This face you wear
It knows truth as lies,
Lies as roads walked in truth
Faith and fragment tried in knots
Woven into well dressed hymns…”
That stanza is excellent, as is the entire poem. It sings like a hymn.
I’m a bit late in saying welcome back. But I hope you had good travels. Thank you for this beautiful poem.
April 15, 2009 at 8:28 am
Julie, as always you are too kind, thanks for the welcome back – travels went well but happy to be home in Northern Cal. Spring is here and I need to clear the cob webs out of the brain and think of new things to write —
thanks as always — you are the greatest –
April 17, 2009 at 1:14 pm
Interesting, I`ll quote it on my site later.
Have a nice day
April 20, 2009 at 6:06 am
This is a beautiful piece. It’s one of those that gives you chills.
April 20, 2009 at 8:22 am
Thank you World, Your comments are always appreciated – we to often make hero’s out of insignifiance (the World is full of Hero’s un-noticed).
April 26, 2009 at 3:53 pm
“This face you wear
Has known its power
In stories tested by restless years
Its hero born of bitter sweat and sweetened tears”
Such moving words so beautifully penned.
I think I’ll look at wrinkles differently now. Rather than offering them my scorn I’ll look for stories hidden there and pause to listen and remember. As for heroes, I’m sure there are many hidden among us who are unaware of their noble status.
April 26, 2009 at 5:24 pm
Karen,
Your words are always so encouraging and heartfelt – yes, to often we spend our time looking for a hero to look up to when one may be standing right next to us.
Blessings to you –
April 27, 2009 at 1:24 pm
picture and poem, i like, this line spoke to me: “Its hero born of bitter sweat and sweetened tears”
April 27, 2009 at 2:10 pm
Sojourner,
The are hero’s all around us – life has away of making hero’s out of the unknown and unexpected.