I hid behind that mask again;
That makes me look human enough to be loved.
All that time I thought of;
How repulsed you'd be if;
You caught a glimpse of the real me.
The more you express your love,
The more my heart sinks;
My smile dampens;
My mind freezes.
Cause I can't help but panic as I think,
"I must be a great actor,
Cause you can't see what's beneath this."
What happens when the acting stops?
That will probably mean the end;
Because the mask you love is too hard to keep up,
And eventually it will come off.
The real me is undeserving of your love,
And truly that *****.

Today, I know what it's like
To be a Russian nesting doll.
Putting a mask over my mask
That masks how I'm really feeling inside.
But you know what?
They're not all bad.
Masks can be beautiful.
And remember, at the end of the day,
You're still you underneath it all.

Behind the mask
I feel my warm breath
Grateful
For the Grace of life

Behind the mask
I don’t need
To speak so much
Grateful
For the Grace of Silence

Behind the mask
I see her smile
In her eyes
Grateful
For the Grace of smiles

Behind the mask
We hug
With smiles
Grateful
For Grace of hugging eyes

Behind the mask
I see all of creation
In the lap of Mother Earth
Hiding
From themselves
Suffering
Behind masks
I pray
Grateful
For the Grace of prayer

I pray
For front line workers
Leaders of nations
Poor and hungry
Sick and dying

I pray
For people and plants
Gardens and dungeons
Earth and skies

I pray
With folded hands
Streaming tears
Wetting my mask
Grateful
To you
For the Grace of reading