A Book Of Rhyme, Rhythm, And Time

Mask: Love

Hide in a mask

Let no one see

The embarrassing truth inside of me.

Cover my face

Conceal my heart

Trust no one, deception is an art.

I can't risk exposure,

Won't let my story see light of day

I can't take the shame,

I ask, "What would they say?"

Surely, they'd disapprove

Of the wild thing; my heart

So lock it away

Don't tell,

Just stay.

Grow a coat of dust,

Let the locks rust,

It's better if my dreams die sooner in the dust.

I hate these lies, my false identity,

It's a grand price to pay for still these years of uncertainty.

The toils of love and bondage of my heart,

All these ambitions,

Impossible plans.

My schemes of greatness,

The things I'd do,

Who do I hide it from,

Me or you?

I don't want to recognize

The measures I'd take

I don't want the world to know what's really at stake.

All that I crave,

All that I long for,

This is the real suffering,

These my darkest hours,

They've stretched into years,

A quilt of many days,

Secrets and lies,
Forever and always.

I wish I didn't know,

Wish I knew better

Than to condemn myself to years of this labor.

This labor to maintain

A life I didn't want,

A life I choose to keep safe my heart.