We learn so young to wear this face
A smile too bright, a laugh misplaced.
The mask was snug, a perfect fit,
But now it cracks, and we can’t quit.
The edges tear, the paint decays,
What once was perfect now betrays.
It itches, burns, it clings to skin,
I try to peel, but can’t begin.
Years go by, the fractures grow,
The mask too tight to ever go.
I tug and pull, I scream and shake
But still, it stays. It will not break.
It once was armor, now it’s a cage,
A prison lined with silent rage.
I sob, I beg, I choke and hide
But no one sees the tears inside.
They only see what they believe:
A smile they want, not what’s beneath.
And so I wear it every day
The hollow grin that won’t decay.