Climbing

Empty as this cup of coffee

Alone and lonely and trying

Trying to make sense of how

I ended up here and more so

How I get out of this place 

Desperately climbing up 

These smooth walls and 

Slipping down for lack

Of any hand or foot hold

Bruise

It starts not even visible to the naked eye

But the pain, sharp and noticeable, presents

Then gradually without much fanfare

Purple shows up, light, almost floral

Still hurting, acutely to the touch

As the purple darkens, it fits the feeling

Painful but colorful reminder of the damage

Fading out it begins to yellow, sickly golden

Tinged with green you begin to know the pain

Will soon subside physically but hold on

Remaining in some form as a reminder

 

Masks

So many masks to keep track of

To stave off the loneliness and smile 

To pretend that all is well and good

To hide the real me from all around 

Mask after mask embellished with 

Markings fine and true as if etched

By the finest craftsmen and each 

Worn as the situation demands