MASKING IT--

Did you ever feel that your mask is slipping?

What, didn't know you were wearing one?

Oh, I have a lifetime of them--

Found it difficult to settle 

On just one, but 

 if I were to choose a mask--

just one mask--

I'd like to choose this one--

It's so glamorous--

so RED--

and I feel immediately festive

 and mysterious 

just looking at it!

But what about all those times

when the masks

competed:

"Don't look unhappy=

don't be moody--

Moody was the big sin in my family..

I showed that moody face/mask

to the outside world....

Never, never, never!!!

Must be smiling and cheerful and pleasant..

sort of, "laugh clown laugh"

But then I had such a hard time

finding a laughing clown

who wasn't scary--

Better this safe smiley face--

So when I often stumbled through my life

sort of screaming inside,

I hoped the outside world

only saw this:

Whew!  Made it through another day

in the Sweet Masquerade

that is my life.