I wear this mask
To cover up my mistakes
To hide from my own
Shame and disgrace

I smile and wave
Pretend for a while
And when I’m alone
I’ll cry for a while

I use different masks
For family
For friends
For anyone looking to see
Just me

I wear this mask
So that I can be
Like everyone else
In this masquerade ball

If I were to take off
This mask that I wear
I’d stand out in the crowd
Open, vulnerable, and bear

So I wear this mask
To clear my head
To show that everything is all ok
So that I may live my life like others

And maybe one day
Someone will look
Close enough
To see through this mask
To see the true me

Hoping
Always hoping
That one day
I may be free