Masks.
We all wear a mask
To hide something from
Someone or everyone.

My masks always vary on
The situation,
The time,
The place,
The...people.

Sometimes I wear a mask
To hide the pain and depression
That I face on a daily basis.
I hide it so no one
Asks me if I'm okay.
To avoid those awkward
Situations where someone
Asks me to talk about how
I'm feeling.
I can't stand talking about
What goes on in this head
Of mine.
Those masks usually have
A bright, happy smile
On them.
Anything to throw people off.

Sometimes I wear a mask
To hide my uncomfortable
Shyness around a crowd.
A glare,
A scowl,
Maybe a mask that chuckles
At some random person's joke.
Sometimes that mask cracks
Under the lightest of pressure
But it stays on until
I take it off.

Sometimes it's a mask that fakes
Being awake and aware
When in reality I'm exhausted,
Mentally and physically.
Fake wide, bright eyes
Another fake smile
Accompanied by slight bed head.
I'll sip on some coffee to convince
Those around me that I'm
Waking up and mentally aware.
That mask is almost a daily
One that I need to clean soon.
Too much time and exposure
To life has it looking
As haggard as my soul.

But this mask..."
I point to the blood caked
Gasmask hiding my face
From tonight's victim of fate.
"This mask is the mask
I choose to wear for many reasons.
To hide the monster that
I have become in my short life.
To let those know that
Their life will turn into
My macabre work of art.
But simply..."
I smile behind the old rubber
Of the mask as I talk to the torn
And bloodied canvas
As she starts breathing her
Last few breaths.
"I wear the mask because
It is who I am and will always be."