14200
IT WAS A LIE
A LIE I TOLD MYSELF TO SHIELD MY WORDS
TO SAVE FACE
TO COVER THEM WITH NICETIES WHEN I HAD
TO ELIMINATE ANGER, DISCONTENT, INDIGNATION
AND MY OWN FRUSTRATION WITH
THE NEED TO PUT YOU IN YOUR PLACE
THAT PLACE WITH NO WORDS
WAS KILLING ME DAILY
AND EVENTUALLY
SMOTHERED ME TO DEATH AND
BECAME MY COFFIN
WHEN MY WORDS DIED ON MY
TONGUE
AND MY FACIAL EXPRESSION WAS CALLED INTO
QUESTION
SO AT TIMES
I REMEMBERED TO PUT ON A MASK
HIDE WHAT I FELT
WHILE SHIFTING MY GAZE AND
KEPT MY MOUTH CLOSED SO TO
AVOID
TELLING A LIE
WHEN THE TRUTH WOULD SUFFICE
BUT NEVER TO BE HEARD.
