Behind my smile, lie the tears

A brave front masks my fears

Scared, the reality hides from the world

While the mask flies, free as a bird

My heart only knows the pain I bear

I keep it concealed, year after year

Who am I? I am you

The real you hidden under that false hue

Knowing the whole world is a foe

A mask remains all anyone can show

To ourselves, we have to lie

Ignoring our real self's cry

You know you must never lay your heart bare

Because no one can ever truly care

Yet you choose to ignore and live on

In your imaginary world of lie and con

Because that no one does for another's sake

Is a truth too hurtful to take

And so, of silver linings we talk of

While at our stupidity, reality scoffs

Because it knows we don't have a clue

Because we can never know what's true

And yet, life will go on and the world will spin

As people continue to hide behind a grin