Behind It All

You put on

The same mask

You put on

A fake smile

But still

You wonder

Why no one sees

What's really happening

Behind it all. 

You never tell the truth

When asked "Are you okay?"

It's always a lie

"Yes

I'm fine

Don't worry about me"

And yet

You're saddened

When no one can see

The way

You truly feel

Behind it all. 

Even though

You want someone

To see

How broken

And shattered

You really are

You still hide it

Behind loud laughter

And big smiles

No one sees

Because you hide it

You don't open up

You don't let people in

You're afraid

Of looking needy

Or attention seeking

So you hide it

Put the mask back on

Plaster on a smile

Wipe away the tears

And lie

"I'm okay"

Over

And over

Again

And again

You want support

You want someone

To understand

To look at you

And see through

The external costume

Into the internal turmoil

Of thought

And feeling

That's consuming you whole

But you hide it

So no one will see

No one

Can comfort you

Protect you

From the bad things

If you're

The only one

Aware of them.