MY MASK

I made a mask for myself one day,
so colorful, filled with glee.
But beneath the surface lies another
aspect of my personality.

Nobody sees me cry,
because I designed the mask to be smiling.
Nobody sees the pain,
because I made the mask for lying.

Beneath the smiles are tears,
and behind the joy is sadness.
Everything you think you see
is not everything there is to me.

I once removed my heavy mask
in a place where nobody could see.
I looked in a mirror as tears dropped to the floor.
I asked myself, "Why can't I just be me?"

My face was hot and sweaty
because I wore it for a long, long time.
But now I've decided & told myself
not to wear it again and stick
to this real beauty of mine.