Behind the Mask
You only notice the attractiveness
that forms in the corners of your eyes
and the grins that span the length of your face
you fail to notice the reservoir of tears
that are held back by anxieties at the outer corners of my eyes.
I am a black boy with a lot of laughter
but my soul is filled with hurts, pains, and rafters of wounds
You can see the beauty of my demeanor
but you miss the heaviness of my facial features.
My smile is a mask that hides the countless lies,
inflated claims, and artificial cheers
that flow through my veins
and find residence in my countenance.
My scars are made of letters wrapped in the cellophane of pains
and I have traveled many a path of hurts, betrayal, and smarting dots
If you could read my scars
you would find a star in every one of them.
Let me reveal your lies
and tell you about the one who stole my heart and returned a dart
You grabbed my smile and bolted a mile
let me uncover your pain
You lit a candle but covered the flame
you are the suffering concealed by my masked smile.
I remain your favourite poet, Blackdovy.