with mask over endless facades
leather outfit to cover soft tissue emotions
and tough voice to hide a despairing character
she plays Halloween and falls completely
into the pretense of pretending
playing for shrieks and loud laughs
whistles and snide remarks
and stares because
she doesn’t care
but never tears and certainly not hers
running hidden down cheeks
beneath the guise
those she was supposed to save for later
while naked and bare-boned
sitting in front
of the mirror
of cold-blooded
honesty