What Mask Do I Wear? Poem by Mark Heathcote

What mask do I wear?
A mask that says I'm confident
what says I'm not a bit scared?
I'm not a bit insecure
look, there is no paranoia here
there's no concealed anger here
behind my smiles, slipping, sneer.

What mask do I wear?
Look, I am a caring, polite soul, considerate
I am not a bit snippy, nor am I spiteful
I pride myself on being honest to a fault.
But you know, honesty, it hurts.
Okay, I wear a mask, so who doesn't
but yours, yours has already slipped.

What mask do you wear?
Father, your voice bites with a cutting edge
mother yours trembles as it conceals.
Where your eyes roll back, brother
there's an eternal teardrop
uncertain-to-fill the void
should it one day drop.