Those who search for inspiration
Flame lies there inside
Instantaneous creation
You find the place fire hides

Do not shush that whispering voice
Let the thoughts come rushing in
You want to make art
You have the choice
All you do is just begin

just thinking back
           on
my twenties and cracking
           a
smile for every tree I hollowed
           out
to make room for a new universe.


now,
in my thirties, I laugh at windows
           stacked
on top of Mercury's head as
           Venus covers her mouth and hides again.

Mask on my face protects me.
Hides me.
Binds me.

Help me to pretend.
Puting on a smile
Dont put me on trial.
You wont win this game.

My mask is a cover,
A slip,
A shield.

Its protects me,
It helps me.

Let me go about my day.
Let me on my way.
This isnt your issue.
Dont get a tissue.
I was born this way.

Hide away.
Feeling,
Truth,
Lies,
Numb,

Push it away till it is no more.

Do you think god
Hides in heaven
Because he too
Lives in fear
Of what he's created?

I opened my closet door and fingered through my masks
"Which one should I wear today" I wondered by myself
"Today is Susan's birthday, perhaps a happy face"
"Though John just lost his game, perhaps a sad one as well"
"And Tonya's mom is nervous, perhaps some empathy"
As I looked upon my masks to wear, all seemed quite fitting
I removed the mask I wore below, the mask of apathy
as I slowly peeled back this fleshy molded face
a salty barren field revealed its proper place
as true features themselves emerged
amuck with tears unnoticed
by myself

Though the lamp burns
all I see is the brightness before me,
yet I never watch the shadows of woe
                               that this light expels.

                            For within illumination  
there is always things that even though
illuminated we shield our eyes from.

For every footstep may be seen,
but still we tread over the footsteps
                     of others shielding eyes.

For we may follow others paths,
     but there are still stones
             that are never read upon.

For every smooth path hides the weeds,
                         to ashamed to walk upon.