The Ballad of Flattery's Doom

By purr_verse

I took your face and put it on
You so inspired me with your style
I loved your voice, your confidence
And thought I’d try it for a while.

My mundane world so dull, so grey
but you were so resplendent; See,
I dreamt that if I mirrored you
That you would fall in love with me.

I took your face and put it on
and, masked, I loved my brilliant art
My insight and my imagery
My new charisma, new bold heart

I practised wearing worlds of yours
and revelled in their wondrous view
and soon I dazzled, I delighted -
I was perfect, just like you.

At first I could not comprehend
why your passion stayed as stone
Your smile was saddened, and your touch
Forever cold, and me alone.

But now I was magnificent!
I could not see how you’d be bored,
Till my reflection showed the truth
Of course: you’d seen that face before.

Unauthorized Copying Is Prohibited. Ask the author first.

Published on Thursday, April 19, 2007. Filed under: "Poetry"

Awards

October 29th, 2012

Comments on "The Ballad of Flattery's Doom"

On Wednesday, October 31, 2012, Hands_Around_My_Throat (67) wrote:

I was lured in by how well crafted this is, and then you manage to show me a truth that has long been lost on me... I'm thoroughly impressed.
On Monday, June 28, 2010, jonLyndon (113) wrote:

A splendid mask, but mask are only to be worn, not to become... beautifully crafted "my insight my imagery". Lovely!
On Wednesday, June 18, 2008, DIATRICUS (64) wrote:

Brilliantly scripted...
On Friday, December 7, 2007, Lynaes (854) wrote:

Purrfect. Your intelligence astounds me. The ending as well, summed it all up brilliant. Your words are very inspiring. :)
On Monday, August 6, 2007, Narcissa (391) wrote:

Beautiful - Isn't that the truth
A former member wrote: wow, with the ending you got me, deserved win
On Tuesday, June 26, 2007, Lotophagi (333) wrote:

wonderful write, it has been so long since I've been here... and it's just lovely that I decided to read this before anything else. Thank you.
On Saturday, June 23, 2007, Enigma (90) wrote:

That was amazing,
On Monday, June 11, 2007, Spiritus_Frumenti (340) wrote:

you are just so creative with words....there's nothing you can't accomplish with your mighty pen...-l-
On Saturday, June 9, 2007, blue (1409) wrote:

I.. ooh, goosebumps. Again, you did it again! ~b rawr.
A former member wrote: Congrats! Of course... you deserve the win; very well deserved.
On Friday, June 8, 2007, SilentStalker (1047) wrote:

...this makes me proud to have been commented on by you; you're a master of metre and rhyme as well, and frankly, I can't decide which part of the poem drew me in more--the flawless structure, or the onbroken content and message...
On Saturday, June 9, 2007, SilentStalker (1047) wrote:

*unbroken
On Friday, June 8, 2007, SilentStalker (1047) wrote:

...though being a perfectionist in my own heart, I might spot some things others may have brushed off; that, however, doesn't take away the fact that this is as close to perfect as a write can ever get...
On Friday, June 8, 2007, SilentStalker (1047) wrote:

...I'm actually glad to see someone else masters 'ABCB' on here as well; sure, 'ABAB' done right is much more impressive, but how many times do we see it done well...? this is definitely my preferred scheme, in writing And in reading...
On Friday, June 8, 2007, SilentStalker (1047) wrote:

...well, other than the scheme I stole from Poe; but yeah, that's a whole new ball game...anyways, thanks for the read, and I see why you won; seeing such a similar writing style gives me a bit of hope... :D -- Darun
On Thursday, June 7, 2007, glasshouse (530) wrote:

A well deserved victory. Awesome.--Jes
On Thursday, June 7, 2007, carlosjackal (2787) wrote:

Hearty Congrats, Natalie :) -Carl
On Friday, May 11, 2007, Sepulcrawl (78) wrote:

finally something the meaning wasn't lost on me in. if you write me something personal i will send you a piece of card with my lip prints on it.
A former member wrote: Mirrors and masks end up by becoming interchangeable, as beauty gives way to boredom. Wonderfully portrayed and infinitely true.
On Friday, May 4, 2007, asphyxia (56) wrote:

oh the last line kills. but in the painfully, wonderful way!
On Monday, April 23, 2007, flying_fox (571) wrote:

...but you never thought to ask me if I wear it when you're gone. This is wonderful as always. I always find it interesting to see the different things people get out of a poem.
On Monday, April 23, 2007, flying_fox (571) wrote:

For me, it says (the moral of the story if you will) 'be who you really are, don't apologise, don't change. Just be.' I shall also leave you with a quote...
On Monday, April 23, 2007, flying_fox (571) wrote:

You cannot make someone love you. All you can do is stalk them until they give in. :) love you.xxx
A former member wrote: "I practised wearing worlds of yours" The wearer of the masks reveals themselves, as the student become the master. Sometimes we wear these masks that we see in mirrors, not recognizing ourselves at first - and then we stop looking at that mask and see...
On Thursday, April 19, 2007, nur hidayah (114) wrote:

oh my God...I'm not sure if I interpreted it right but as a guilty narcissist,this hits home.Narration is effacacious,title is brilliant,the idea is simply genius.Wish I thought of it!
A former member wrote: ....((Poe with his infamous ''rather be hated for who i am" quote)); this was wicked honesty with somehow a subversive persona'd sick voice of narration; what a twisted echo and narcissis endeavour; genius you .ness.
On Thursday, April 19, 2007, carlosjackal (2787) wrote:

What a closing...so satisfying, the mastery displayed in this piece was magnificent.
On Thursday, April 19, 2007, torn_beauty (77) wrote:

Oh wow. Where did this come from? It was just marvalous I tell you!
On Thursday, April 19, 2007, mysterylove (97) wrote:

wow amazing..
On Thursday, April 19, 2007, Alanarchy (1168) wrote:

So is it the truest form of flattery? Can't say. But you have this ability to express yourself so well. I ate up every word. especially that opening line. I read that and new I was in for something :D awesome.
On Thursday, April 19, 2007, Bella Butchery (696) wrote:

god, this riminded me of falling for someone.... not in love but just for anyone that inspires you... when you meet that person with unlimited potential, you want to rub it all over your skin... or at least, that what i get from this... kudos