The Mask Poem by Jamie Ellen Christian

I used to think that people could look into my eyes and see all the pain
that by the look on my face they could see that I was scared
I thought on a stormy day they could see my tears even through the rain
that once they got close they could tell that my trust was impaired
I felt for people who must have saw these things
it was apparent they did not care
So I looked into the mirror to see if indeed the pain was real
Even though I saw a smile on my face I am sure of the anguish I feel
I put my hands on my face and the expression began to peel
No wonder no one seemed concerned
they had been staring at a smile for years
They never saw in the cracks of that smile, tears
through the opening of that smile
they never heard me screaming out my fears
And now that I have taken that giddy look off
how can I go back and tell all those people that it was really sorrow that I wore
They would say I was crazy
and laugh themselves to the floor
So I will go back to my life long task
smiling and giggling
and wearing this mask