Upon my face, a mask

Carved with confidence 

And riddled with resolve. 

Upon my face, a sneer

That says I can see

Past the cynicism. 

Upon my face, the sort of

"I can handle it"

That picks people's noses

Up from their smartphones. 

Upon my face, a mask

Smoothed to the demands

Of a society that can't tell

Success from suffering

Or defeat from resignation

Because it's too busy 

Swooning over the dream

At the end 

And won't wake up long enough

To admire the journey. 

A society that I conform to

Because what other voices 

Are telling me anything different? 

Upon my face, a lie.