Masquerade Poem by Arielle Howze

Desperately struggling between illusionary and real
Wear the mask
Become the character
A flawless unfaltering facade
How long before you become who you pretend to be?
Do you lose yourself while trying to uphold preconceived notions of normal?
Careful camouflage
Methodical mimicry
Rehearsed replies
Practiced facial expressions
Painfully forced smiles
Robotic
Fit in. Blend in.
Because if they knew how hollow you were
How different you were from them.....
They'd stone you