The Glass Mask

talks of the masks we wear for others

The Glass Mask

All of humanity wear a mask in public
For fear that they will not be accepted
if their true nature was known.
These masks only come off in front
Of their family and friends.

I too wear a public mask
Opaque and heavy, to shield me from all eyes.
I too take it off with family and friends.

But I have a second mask.
It is made of carefully crafted glass
Invisible to all,
It subtly refracts the light
The careful curves and facets
Twisting what even those dearest to me see

I wonder sometimes
If everyone else has this second mask
And I wonder always
If I dropped it
Would it shatter or would I?