Begin the dance.

Lock the door.

Put on the mask.

Shape the curls.

Brush on the paint.

Plaster the smile.

Look in the mirror.

Look away.

Begin the dance.

Laugh like the others.

Cry like the others.

Be like the others.

Stop the dance.

Plaster the door.

Take off the mask.

Pull back the curls.

Wipe off the paint.

Erase the smile.

Look in the mirror,

Don’t look away.