The Mask I Wear Poem by Vanessa Alvarez

The mask I wear is always bright,
A painted smile, a borrowed light.
It hides the truth, it veils the pain,
A silent storm, a constant rain.

Behind each grin, a shadow lies,
A heavy heart, unspoken cries.
The eyes conceal what lips deny,
The tears that fall when no one's nigh.

I laugh aloud, I play the part,
Yet sorrow lingers in my heart.
Hope feels distant, dreams grow thin,
A quiet war I fight within.

The mask is strong, it hides me well,
It keeps the world from where I dwell.
But underneath, the cracks still show,
The grief, the loss, the undertow.

I long for days when light will stay,
When joy will chase the dark away.
When smiles are real, not worn in vain,
And peace will heal this hidden pain.

So if you see me dressed in cheer,
Know there are truths you cannot hear.
For every smile, a tear may start—
The mask I wear protects my heart.