The Man Behind the Mask

He is such a self-confident man,

He walks with his head held high,

As if not intimidated by anyone.

He would do anything and say anything,

Without any hesitation or anxiety or shame.

She had never known a man like him.

But, there had been many times,

In the restaurants or just walking on the streets,

When she had been laughing with him,

or listening to him talk,

or watching the skin around his eyes crinkle as he thought hard,

or hugging his warm body,

She would suddenly find him switched off.

In those moods, he was no longer loving,

No longer amusing, no longer thoughtful,

Or considerate or gentlemanly or compassionate.

He makes her feel excluded, a stranger

An intruder in his private world.

For her, It feels like,

The sun masking itself behind a cloud,

Little does she know that,

These are the moments,

I reveal the man behind the mask.