One continuous question she'd ask,

"Can I take the mask off now?"

for she could breathe but not to her content

for the words she spoke were only mumbles to ears

for she'd forgotten how​ she really looked.

"Can I please take the mask off now?"

with a sharp glare they hushed

and forced was she to smile

to people

to strangers

to the flashes of uncountable gadgets.

Eternity of fake for she lived in hell,

none true self did she meet,

and everyday she'd smile the cursed lies

and everyday to masked life she'd wake.

The time does it's job and amongst trophies so she stands,

watching reflections of her horrendous beauty,

for she's scared now

scared of facing her one true self

for she did wrong her soul

for she did lie beneath the lies

for she trusted her heart not.

Now she sees her body turning to ashes

and the mask melting in her bones
And this time she questions herself
"Can I really take the mask off now?"

-Jyotsna Yogi