Mask Poem by Taressa Dunham

My mask is there to hide me
And also to show what I will not.

The red is for the violence my life has been privy to,
For the blood that has been shed,
For the war between me, myself, and time.

The orange is for all of my energy,
Being forced into something presentable.

The blue represents the pain, the loss, the sorrow
For feeling so alone, so cold and rueful.

The grey is for the boredom I feel only too often,
For the sadness of my past
And the security of my future.

The white is for the little innocence that is left.

The yellow is for the hope that things will get better,
For the happiness I strive to show.

The purple is for the arrogance, mourning, and mystery that is my life.

The design represents my attitude-
You can't miss it: it makes up most of who I am.

On one side it is plain, ordinary
On the other, it is extraordinary, loud.

The mask may cover up who I really am,
But it also shows a part of who I wish I could be.