This past week I heard a laugh profound

From start of day through end, it would resound

But when I left every laughing face,

The stain of laughter, I couldn’t erase

I heard the poor laugh again and again and again

I wondered where did the laugh derive from, within?

The laugh, yesterday I shared in

Today, is a challenge to partake in the painful pretend

Enlightened that the mask isn’t our friend..

Call me a mad woman,

If you want to…

But laugh again in the place of what ought to be addressed

Is…what…I…won’t…do.

Like the sleep I could hardly rest through last night

All of the Blue Faces that came to dream

Made up so very prettily

They put on a scene for the hope

To be seen…and held…

Yet yell for you to go, Leave!

Then pray you would know what it is she really needs

Oh, the old challenge to see if you would stay

This, she doesn’t quite gather the words to say,

“I have a problem. I need you to be here while I heal.

Promise you’ll be here when I wake. Say you will!”

Is what she means to tell you

Instead she screams,

“I beg you, leave, so I don’t experience

the abrupt surprise of yet another heartache”

Are the words she sells you.

She beats you to the door

And pushes you out

With the ugly words she knows you hate to hear rushing from her mouth

I wonder why you don’t turn her around, in faith

To show your only desire is to be with her, home

To secure your place, her, no need to be alone.

Instead you turned and walked away

In the moment, you were called to hold the ground in the face of her historical overwhelming outbreaks.

Now you’re out in the cold, homeless wandering for a place to lay.

Holy, holy, holy…

Help us to live the other way

Man, stand up, face Here, another day.

Woman, learn to speak what you really mean to say.

Less make-up

Let’s make up.

Inspired by Paul Lawrence “We Wear the Mask and Maya Angelou “The Mask” and what I see all around me, I woke up from this dream was reminded of real poetry…that which was in the past still lives today. Dirt isn’t going to cover it up. It wants to break to day.