Masks

The first time I look up I see vibrant colors

Bright golds and reds yellows 

They blind me in their resilience.

Then I blink.

I blink and see one by one the colors start to fade.

I blink and I see black and gray and white.

I blink and it becomes clearer

You truly are no different

The colorful masks mean nothing 

Because the more you blink

The more the water from my tears washes away the paint

I blink and see truth.

And because this truth is ugly

I choose to never blink again