i wore a mask of white
but they didn't like it
so i painted my pearls
with ash
they finally opened the door
but face-forward and back-turned
out came the serpents
with their flickering tongues
so i was confused
and angry
so i cried, and the tears washed away
the facade i so carefully crafted
i regret ever knocking
the outside
is a lot
nicer
-n.c
