Hidden Face

In fear of being singled out,

Teased and hurt all over again,

She keeps herself safely hidden.

She felt the need to hide her face

As if in some buried disgrace.

For in memory she is still haunted

With visions of being ridiculed and taunted

During her long ago school days

Where she would fall in a familiar maze

Of classrooms, corridors, and hallways.

She often fretted and wondered

Which unkind classmate was around the next corner?

So, even today she fears that same stabbing rejection

Although longing deeply for one true friend,

She remains ever quiet; hardly speaking.

How she has learned to hide her pain

With her solemn and non-committal facial expression;

In the midst of a crowd, she cleverly blends in.

She walks around town with

Her covered head tilted down,

Never looking up, never seeing

The sweet beauty of day or the warmth of the sun.

She misses the rainbow’s arching arm

In the quiet calm after a thundering storm.

She misses the watchful eagle

Sitting high on its rocky pinnacle

And his sudden majestic dive

As he soars through the sky.

He glides over the crystal blue river

Spying a fish swimming like a quiver.

Fear and lack of self-assurance prevent

 Others from seeing her true consonance;

The unique person she is meant to be and her

True personality ever so carefully

 Buried and shielded, so mysteriously.

But oh how she desires and longs to be

A courageous and different person, so free.

But that old foe, Fear, keeps her hemmed within

A deep darkness but soon a light does penetrate in

As one fine noon day, she decides s to be brave

Determining she had a new path; a new trail to blaze.

For it had occurred to her that she indeed had the ultimate choice;

She could remain always sheltered or make known her own voice.

As finally it dawned as she was quiet and reflective

To start thinking differently; a new perspective.

She realized that in the heart of the matter

It was she who kept herself so silently sheltered;

There was no one else but

Just her own timid self

Allowing her being to be trapped

By old recollections of her past

Which robbed her of joy for today

As deep inside, her spirit withered away.

 So she promised with a hint of trepidation,

But also with a note of celebration,

 “I’ll try, I’ll try today!

 to let my face be seen; not hidden.

Oh yes, my hidden face will be seen today.”