The "Everything's fine" mask

Let us all play pretend.
Let us show the world
    I will not end.
Let us all play pretend.


Shall we don the mask,
so none will ask,
"Is everything fine?"


When all is said and done,
to whom will we show
the thing others do not know,
That our mask
    is not for fun.


We wear the mask
and all believe
they know
the weave of of our life
though, truth be told,
would leave all aghast.


Hide your fear;
hide your tears,
all those years,


To overcome the pain,
but what happens
when it is time to laugh again?


Neofrost February 21, 2001