A Masquerade



Look, man, I'm confident about myself;
as for those friends of mine: let them say for themselves.
But, judging from their appearance
you never can tell.

You think he is so sure  of himself
because he carries himself about?
a lie!
There is a loophole
right in his inside
gnawing at his confidence.

You think because he dresses so well,
he is so confident;
listen: he thinks that cloth
does not fit him so well!

You think because he parades himself like that he is so sure of himself?
A lie!
He is just trying to cover up,
to make up;
he is only masquerading;
there is a Beatle in his inside
nibbling away at his confidence!

My friend, you think that man is superior to you? (Odiegwu)!
He is not; watch him:
you will find out his emptiness!

Come, you think you cannot approach him for friendship
because you assume he is so superior to you?
Above your status,
try him now and see!

Enyim, you think appearance matters a lot?!
A lie!

Appearance is only a Masquerade
of the true self.

*enyim: my friend: Igbo language;
*Odiegwu: Igbo exclaimation; literally, it means, "it is fearful."

About this poem

Appearance and reality have been in constrast always. While your outward look may have a postive message, your body language may depict a contrast; a betrayal of the true self. Do you recognise a thief at a glance?

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Written on July 21, 1987

Submitted by Chinonyeisraeluche on May 01, 2023

Modified on May 01, 2023

1:09 min read
2

Quick analysis:

Scheme axbc axDxeb cxxc aDffxeb xxg xxgx xD xa xx
Closest metre Iambic tetrameter
Characters 1,089
Words 231
Stanzas 9
Stanza Lengths 4, 6, 4, 7, 3, 4, 2, 2, 2

Israel Chinonye Uche

Date of Birth: 18/9/57 Nigerian; Igbo BA(Hons) 1982,Theatre Arts, University of Calabar; PGDE, 1987,University of Nigeria, Nssuka Secondary School teacher( retired). Author and publisher more…

All Israel Chinonye Uche poems | Israel Chinonye Uche Books

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