I take these stones
from each of you
and wall myself away
________________________
where did my face go
lost in the deception
a secret from myself
________________________
the standard trope
to remove a mask
leaves one an other
________________________
another glob of paint
covers a glob of paint
smeared across canvas
________________________
stereotypes claw like rats
carving wet flesh into
filigreed bits of bone
________________________
blood flows thick below
the ephemera of words
choke on what you speak
________________________
wash the colors free
wash the blood away
wash the water clean
(June 26, 2013)
subtext 