Of course to any onlookers,
he seemed to be ridiculous.
As his own confusion set in,
so did his mirror-mask slip down.
No longer aware of his own act
the sadbeast wasn't able to continue
the masquerade.

Other people passed the boy
and wondered at why a sadbeast
would be so concerned at becoming
a proper happy-creature.

It was no more reasonable
than a fish trying to fly
or a worm trying to run.

But the sadbeast
was in such a fret
that he ignored the warnings,
the ringing words of the whole world
fell on ears attuned only
to the sound of his own screams.