in pink houses

we hide our secrets –

black as coal –

from outside eyes

heaven forbid if

they found out

that these smiles

painted on our faces

were not real and

that every night

we fight demons

with handsome eyes

because we want

to live the dream

we were taught

to chase after

- Photo by Mike.  Courtesy of https://www.pexels.com/photo/architecture-britain-british-building-166677/