My Mask

You’re on the outside looking in.
Do you see this mask
I hide behind?
Every day a new face;
a new smile in this race.

Colors spotted left and right,
make-believe is this sight.
One day strong, one day weak;
your eyes are my stage.

“Confidence” is my disguise,
and laughter adds the flare.
But every flicker of your eyes,
weighs this mask down further.

Unconvinced is what you seem;
untouched by my display.
How can it be that you see…
see what I was meant to be?

A single tear gives way;
run the paint, reveal the white.
Approach with caution,
with such care…
I never knew this mask could tear.

You never cared much of this mask.
The game I played,
and tried to hide.
You quickly saw through my charade,
and broke the “shield” I hid behind