Writing a mask poem (also called a persona poem) is like stepping into a literary disguise. Instead of expressing your own thoughts, you adopt the voice of someone or something else.
Have you ever considered what your coffee maker thinks of your morning routine, or how an ancient oak tree feels through the seasons? A mask poem allows you to explore and convey these unique perspectives.
Here’s a quick guide to crafting your own:!
To pull off a great mask poem, you just need to follow these simple steps:
- Pick Your Alter Ego: This can be anything. An animal, an inanimate object (like a garden gnome), a historical figure, or even an abstract concept like “Tuesday” or “Anxiety.”
- Get in Character: Ask yourself some interview questions. What does your subject fear? What do they love? What is their daily routine? If your laptop could talk, it would probably complain about your 47 open tabs. 🙂
- Ditch the Introductions: Don’t start with “I am a toaster.” That spoils the fun! Let the reader guess what you are through your sensory details, your complaints, and your secret desires.
- Use the Power of “I” or “We”: It’s all about perspective. Writing in the first person (“I,” “me,” “my”) instantly locks you into the mask.
- Note: My mask poem is in rhyme, but yours doesn’t have to be. Use any format you’d like!
Now it’s my turn to step behind the mask. Can you guess who I am?
I'm cotton candy on each end.
My skinny back does not bend.
I dance between your finger, thumb.
I dip and spin and wiggle some.
I'm looked upon with great distaste,
then buried in the bin—disgraced.
Who am I?
© 2026 Danna Smith at Poetry Pop. All rights reserved.
That was fun! Did you guess correctly? Swipe right to find out:
You Can Find More Mask Poems Here
- https://poetrypop.com/2023/09/07/writing-a-mask-poem-who-am-i/
- https://poetrypop.com/2022/10/17/mask-poem-riddle/
- https://poetrypop.com/2020/11/21/writing-a-mask-poem-persona/
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