Imagination

The Mask

"Caution! Caution! Danger, beware!"

"That person there, she took off her mask!"

"What on earth is going on here?"

"Proceed with caution! She took off her mask."

Heads turned, cameras panned

Everybody stared at the girl in the corner

Unblinking, they stood hand in hand

Far, far away from this sudden foreigner

"What's happened to her?" They exclaimed in unison

"She might have gone mad!" One giggled and said

Another chimed in "That's not her in person!"

They gossiped and whispered from what they had

"Oh phooey, leave it, she's not worth our time."

"Look! She's a mess! Should we help? Does it matter?"

"Absolutely not, sublime lives don't mix with grime."

With heads held high, they stepped away together

"Such action has taken me a lot of courage to do."

Breaths hitched. Steps halted.

"You think you're succeeding? Take it off, I dare you."

The crowd was stunned. Some berated, some defeated.

"Emotions dance within all of us

Yet we restrict them from full display

We only show signs of happiness

And brush all exceptions aside without delay.

Aren't you tired of wearing the infamous mask?

Invisible, unnoticeable but stressful as a whole?

Take it off, take it off, is all I ask

Let the freeing of mask free your soul."

People gaped in shock as their façades crumbled

They moved towards her, though slow but sure

And as she wrapped her arms around them, soothing words she mumbled

Comforting them with the true smile she wore

"We burn out overtime, yet pretend that we're still strong

Truth is, take a breather, pause a while then carry on

Nobody would judge you or think you've done it wrong

As everybody here will know the battle you've just won."