The Mask We Wear

The mask of smile, a clever, painted grace, That tricks the many, guards our secret space. We curve our lips to keep the world at bay, Hiding the sorrows of each passing day. No one can notice, no one truly sees, The hidden pain behind the beautiful mask of ease. For tears within the heart, they fall unseen, A silent deluge, where no touch can lean To wipe them dry, or offer soft relief. Our hearts are broken, heavy with our grief. Yet still we stand strong, though our spirits tire, For if we fall, those we love will too, like fire That gutters out. We cannot, dare not, cease. Never vulnerable, before those we hold so near, Because in their eyes, we are the pillars here. We long to take a break, to simply let it go, But who will take the wheel? The answer is "no." So we die inside, in silence, slow and deep, While on the outside, a fortress we still keep.