A Pantoum: Masking My Face

The mask upon my face

I wear a mask upon my face

I never cry nor smile

I never show emotion

It hurts too much

I never cry nor smile

I wear an eternal facade

It hurts so much

I need to stop

I wear an eternal facade

I bottle my emotions

I need to stop

I don’t know how

I bottle my emotions

I want to ask for help but

I don’t know how

Weakness hurts me

I want to ask for help but

I don’t want to look weak

Weakness hurts me

I don’t like pain

I don’t want to look weak

So I push the pain inside

I don’t like pain

But I know no other way

So I push the pain inside

I wear a mask upon my face

I know no other way

It hurts so much

I wear a mask upon my face

Forever there it stays

It hurts so much

But I push aside the pain

And forever there it stays

This mask upon my face

And as I push aside the pain

It loosens every day

This mask upon my face

I don’t want it to remain

It loosens every day

And I cry

I don’t want it to remain

It’s hurting so bad

And so I cry

I’m starting to change

It’s hurting so bad

I can’t keep up this charade

I’m starting to change

And so I throw the mask away

I’ve given up this charade

I wear my heart upon my sleeve

I’ve thrown my mask away

I will never be the same

--Ethan Seevers