POETRY

Dressed in Decorum

A poem

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You have such a lovely mask on
smooth and unwrinkled
not a tear
not a crease
it fits you like a skin.

How empathetic
hiding your sorrow for fear of spoiling the evening
with your little storms of truths
silent as discretion
like a breeze
like a sigh.

You are no trouble as a guest
a role you've rehearsed so well
edges and lines smoothed and polished
seamless as silk
your performance.
The hidden frayed thread
pulls tighter and tighter until

Yet still, no tears fall
so restrained
so demure
it's a pool of glistening water behind your eyes.

They might wonder
but none will ask about the flavor of sadness
and you should never explain misery to a crowd devoid of sense.

So, won't you smile?
Broaden the pool?
Leave the night as is
pristine.
After all, we do this oh so well.