If anyone ripped off my gilded mask
And saw the horrid rotting underneath
I doubt that anyone would dare to bask
And love the gargoyle that lies beneath.
All sores and boils were hidden quite well;
Not one could see past the blinding, bright light
That hid the truths I could not bear to tell;
This camouflage gave me such great delight.
And though I know the mask will slip someday
I’ll give my all to keep it from falling,
So I might constrain all of them at bay
And hide things I know they’ll find appalling.
No matter how they try to pull and tug,
No one will be able to pull this plug.