some people
have constructed
elaborate masks
taking performative
to all new levels
careful to keep
who they truly
are hidden

happy go lucky
positive vibes
emanate from
the paper mache
but slowly cracks
form unleashing
snippets of truth
quickly covered
andcasuallydenied

until one day
they go on the attack
all understanding
washed away in
the stream of
alligator tears
replaced by rage
as they reveal who
they always were

you cannot take them
at face value when
you can never be sure
you’ve seen their
actual face and not
the carefully prepared
performative masquerade
they easily adopt when
questioned on their actions

some people
are only satisfied
when everyone else
is as miserable
as they feel daily
so they do their best
to drag it all down
to their level