Beneath the Mask

What you see is the red lips spreading a false smile across my face

This is for your benefit, not mine

But then the mask starts cracking

The sounds, the lights, the conversation

The music, the language, all of your

Complex social expectations

It's all too much, so my true colors start shining through

The blue, the purple, the green

They all come bursting from me, more colors than you have ever seen

You don't know what to do as they come screaming out of me

You could offer some space, withheld judgment, but instead you scoff

You yell at me, brutalize me, or bully me

And when it's over, you expect me to be fine

But my colors are out there, and I'm ok with that

You keep your shades of taupe and beige, just like everyone else

You keep being "normal"

But as for me, I'm going to keep shining

I let my mask slip away