They say a mask worn long enough
may soon become your face
And that a heart devoid of love
will seek any embrace

For some hide behind pages
While others choose the flask
But either way we walk a stage
In a panoply of masks

And yet each day I choose
In increments of years
To carry on a ruse derived
From the basest of fears

Fear of peer's opinion
Of other peoples thoughts
In my mind takes dominion
And once settled starts to rot

Fear of phrases hobbled
Keep words off of my tongue
Forgotten and half cobbled
They die forever young

Lord, if you have called me
To go about your task
I ask to move unhindered
My face clean of this mask

Let my words move freely
And stand with their own grace
Or lacking of symmetry
Just fall flatly on their face

Let my eyes gaze honest
although they may gaze crass
Until the time you manifest
a simple veil of glass