under the mask

I stand behind the curtain
mask fully in place
so my audience will never know
the true shade of my face

the curtain begins to rise
i leap to center stage
now begins my show
now begins me charade

wordless action, spoken threw motion
motion of body and mind
they clap, the cheer
I fear whats behind

my mask shows happy
no other face than that
my true self below
is never seen where its at

my emotion harsh, full of wrath
but with the mask, my face serene
hate fueled by hell below
unjudged by heaven between

there can be no falling now
when Ive worn this mask for years
outside a happy face
inside drowned by tears

but today my performance broke
i fell dividing both my knees
my heart locked inside of me
my audience held the keys

my mask dropped to the floor
and there in silence stood
i wanted to hide my face again
but knew i never could

broken and bare, scared
was my face for all to see
awestruck they saw first hand
the war that was waged upon me

i tried to still the beating
but my heart would not slow
i knew this was the end of my act
i knew it was the end of my show

not a word was spoken
not a single sole stirred
not a movement was seen
not a single word was heard

I stood up tall
and limped off stage
the curtain closed behind me
sealing me into my cage

i went home that night
determined to return never more
never shall i perform again
for me the crowd will never roar

desperate to escape my shame
i will scar my wrist
like my face once had been
sharing my razor-blade kiss

i took a deep breath
i raised my knife
but my heart settled
saving my life

into the mirror
i looked once more
and saw something there
i had never seen before

there was indeed something there
never seen before, cover by the mask
inside my eyes there was a spark of hope
my bones would heal, i would be removed from my cast

and the longer i looked
the faster my scars faded away
i had never seen my real face
before this tragic day

as i began to see
the color of my real face
i slowly realized
it was no disgrace

and now fully healed
i show it bare
for all to see
that i truly care

the day i lost my mask
i broke out of my cage
i released my sorrow
i unchained my rage

nd now i walk the streets
without my chains and mask
and what i will tell you if you do ask
is that no one needs a mask to be seen, and seen happy