Mask of Loneliness

*Author's note. This one was inspired by some lovely yet sad pics by the artist destinyblue. This was very sad and emotional for me to write. Here's the pics that inspired this. Hope you enjoy the poem. http://t01.deviantart.net/PT4gysSpsSUExkUce60aKwsl3Ps=/300x200/filters:fixed_height(100,100):origin()/pre03/49a7/th/pre/i/2012/292/f/4/behind_the_smile_____by_destinyblue-d5ibfov.jpg http://t06.deviantart.net/OR87RThVOWvGdS2hbtAXGDJeVmI=/300x200/filters:fixed_height(100,100):origin()/pre02/50ab/th/pre/i/2012/197/4/6/i__m_fine___lineart_by_destinyblue-d4yvarw.jpg http://destinyblue.deviantart.com/art/Depression-534485738 What do we see when we look at people? Oft times people say seeing is believing Yet what they see most is but a mask A stoic impassive face, seemingly emotionless A gentle smile that doesn't reach the eyes A quiet gentle voice saying I'm okay We oft take these at face value And believe the lie of the mask But what would happen I wonder If we were to dig a little deeper And watch a little longer What I have seen too oft As I've searched a little deeper Is a lonely heart beneath The exterior mask they wear They might be saying "I'm alright" In a quiet tender voice. Yet as I've watched them carefully I've seen a trembling hand. The mask hides our deepest hurts And our most bitter memories. They say on the outside "I'm okay." When inside they're saying "Save me." Tis the world that teaches us To hide behind the mask Boys are told while very young “Big boys don’t cry”, “Crying is weakness”, Girls are told while still a child “Crying is manipulative”, “Don’t cry, they’ll laugh at you” What we most fear as little ones Is the mocking jests and jeers Of the people around us We learn to keep our tears inside And say within ourselves in pain “Maybe tomorrow will be a better day” Thus we see the sad tale Of a world filled with people Being taught to wear The mask of loneliness I pray that we may have the eyes to see Beneath that cheerful mask And see that lonely soul inside That needs a friend, a kind word spoken And that we may have the ears to hear The painful cries of the soul beneath When they say the words “I’m fine.”