I scroll through my parents' Facebook accounts mindlessly at
4:10 AM.
Looking at all the photos.
No matter how hard I try and push the word away it keeps reappearing in my muddy thoughts
Staged.
Each family portrait.
Each selfie.
It's all staged.
I'm troubled by the thought of how many people have gotten mislead by these images.
Imagining all the history that gets replaced with forced smiles.
It's all staged.
My phone illuminates the deception.
My ugly mug glows a sickly color as the lies burn holes in my retinas.

Behind all his smiles and silly gestures
He longs to walk a thousand miles away
He desires to escape from everyday
No more small talk
Or large gatherings
The curtain has CLOSED
A contemporary task.

In the eyes of the crowd
All they see is the proud facade
Entertainment is important
And all they care about
Forgetting the person
behind the PERSONA
a temporary mask.

As his mask fades
Rabbits shift
into sparrows
No light at the end
Only cued applauds
Some flowers
And skewed imagery
An exemplary stage.

Disappearing into the night
Unmasking the illusions he conjured.
The sinking reality comes back
As
Lingering
Silence echoes his longing…
A price to pay of the famed gift
Hoping this will be his last...

~FINALE~
    

Justin G / **Pax