All Is Not What It Seems Poem by Marijke van Staden

A smile on my face
That’s all you can see
What of the tears I keep from you?
Countless nights I’ve fallen asleep crying
My laughter
That’s all you can hear
What of the cries for help I yearn to set free?
The desire to just run away and leave this all behind
Wishing I could fly far away
You see the skin I show
What of the ugly scars I hide from the world?
Remnants of my weakest hours
When I gave in to the temptation that a blade holds
Release from this hell
Wearing a mask to be accepted
Just wishing you’d wake up and see
All is not what it seems.