Get all your ducklings in a row

and demurely hide behind your bow

You probably don't want to know

that the real me doesn't rhyme.

 

I was never into makeup and hiding -

at least, that's what I told myself

as I painted up by mask.

It was fitted in rose glass -

not to cheer me up, but to make others look at me nicer.

To make my reflection look happy.

But I found out that that just makes the rotten wisps of thought collect in front of your face and obscure your vision.

 

There's ugly parts

and beautiful parts

and no filter will ever hide that humanity.

When I finally shouted those rising words

my rose-glass mask fell,

shattered,

to the floor

and now I stand her speaking freely

trying to break the others with my voice.