Pay no attention

to the woman behind the 

mask.

She's just an 

illusion

of smoke and mirrors,

of pulsing lights and

then she's gone.

Pay no attention

to the woman behind the

mask:

as she shakes,

as she trembles an

Pay no mind to the

Cracks

in her voice

or the

shakes

in her hands, because

She will pay no mind.

Pay no attention

to the woman

as she takes the

Mask

     Off,

          adjusts,

puts it back in place.

Pay no attention

to the woman

checking to see if

            anyone

saw her

        weakness,

        vulnerability,

her momentary

        slip.

Pay no attention

Because she will say,

               "everything's okay,"

then turn around and

care for:

        someone else,

        something else,

        some other person and

Pay no attention

to the woman behind the 

mask.