La Da Dee ✔

m a s k s

the people around you
have so carefully crafted a mask for you to wear
day in, day out.

everyone wearing the same manufactured smile
and artificial, shiny eyes.

keep it on for as long as the say;
you'll be safe.

be yourself, they add.
but not like that -
the mask, it's slipping -
stay in your lane

dare to take it off at night
when no one can see
or question you
about the skin beneath their well-designed plastic
so different,
unrecognizable -
your true and raw self is out
but just for a moment,
before the moonlight exposes you
and they criticise how different you look
from the rest of them
wearing the exact same,
bleak,
mask
covering their true thoughts,
feelings
and appearance

makes you wonder -
do you really know these people?
do they know you?
what's behind their mask?

and maybe
they'll look down on you for asking
but maybe
they'll show you what they are.

even if it's only for a second;
because eventually,
they'll enjoy the authenticity so much
they'll join you
in throwing the plastic into the flame
and watching it burn
with a smile on their face.
a real,
actual,
smile
creasing their real,
actual
skin.