I want you to know who I am 

Before you decide you judge me

And I actually mean get to know me:

Listen to what I have to say 

Instead of nodding along like a preprogrammed robot.

But I know you won't wait 

To see what I feel behind my mask

To  decide that I'm not "worthy of your time"

It's written all over your Vinyard Vines shirt and colored khaki shorts.

And while this will hurt me-

This may even destroy me- 

But it will only hurt for a moment.

It will hurt you for a lifetime because I know

What lies behind your mask.

I know the boy who thinks

He is a man but hides behind

His arrogant, boastful, egotistical persona.

I know you,

But you will never know me.

And if I could go back in time

And if you could choose to see this through

I don't know if I would give you the chance.

I guess we all have masks for a reason.