Wearing Different Faces Poem by Iain Kohn

Putting on this coat of happiness. It seems as if I am growing out of it. Happiness used to be who I was, but after falling down and being stepped on I realized that the coat was just too much. Too many patches, too bright a shade. So I took my coat off and put on my attitude.

No more friendly hellos, no more laughter, but unless you have a smile from ear to ear the world will never accept you. People are allergic to hearing about depression. My emotions can come off as an offence. So I gave up, put my attitude on the shelf, then walk around like nothing ever happened.

The psychologist told me if your environment doesn't change you will implode. My counselor said "Your teachers have been telling me you haven't been happy in class, is there something wrong, can I do anything to help? " Nope just let me smile so you don't become too concerned.

I told myself that I don't start smiling again nothing will ever get better. Grief doesn't bring back the day.

Turn that frown upside down, get out of bed, turn off your music, look at me when I'm talking to you. Why aren't you smiling? Turn that frown upside down.

I cover my entire face. I'm happy. The mask that brings out the best of me. I look for my mask before I step outside. I cower in my mask whenever I talk to you. I need my mask to be myself. I swear to god I'm happy. I swear to god I'm happy, I swear to god.

We now have masks, shelves of masks, lining our bedrooms walls. One for every situation, every location, one for every person. I wonder which mask I am going to wear for you.