My poem “Unmasked” was just published by Silver Birch Press. Thank you, Melanie, for organizing these themed poetry events.
Unmasked
by Sarah Russell
I shivered when I took them off,
those masks of forty years —
goodgirlgooddaughtergoodstudentgoodwifegoodmothergoodgoodgood.
I stood naked in a new day.
Who was left?
Could I find her?
Would I love her?
Would anyone?
I set out to build a woman
without masks.
It took a while.
I lost people
and found others —
fewer than before.
They knew me when we met.
I knew them.
None of us wore masks.
All of us were naked.
But the sun was warm on our skin.
Photo by Denise Jans on Unsplash
NOTE FROM THE AUTHOR: It took tears, rage, alienation, and some deep regrets to find the woman who lived behind masks other people expected me to wear. The peace I feel was worth it.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Sarah Russell’s poetry and fiction have been published in Kentucky Review, Silver Birch Press, Red River Review, Misfit Magazine…
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Sarah Russell Poetry 
and how refreshing to take the masks off at last. bravo on your publishing news
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Thanks, Beth!
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good one Sarah
Sent from my iPad
>
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Thanks, Steve.
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Oh yes, I have lived this poem, along with so many others. Excavating our authentic selves is such an amazing journey, and I love the wayfarers we meet along the way (especially through our poetry!)
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I love meeting those wayfarers too, Sherry! Thanks so much for your comment. I think there are a lot of us who had to find out who we really were somewhere in mid-life.
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Congratulations on the publication of this affirming poem! I’ve been through a few mask removals myself.
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Thanks so much, Liz. There are a lot of us who had to find out who we were meant to be,
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