I look in the mirror and see chips of alabaster
Flakes of porcelin
Wallpaper drooping from the facade I've built
My mask slipping ever so slightly
And watch in abject horror as those around me
Notice as well.
Holding out their hands to help in reparation
Makes me uneasy and wary
Damage control is best done alone
And so, brick by brick
I crazy glue my life into some sense of order
Mindful of the fact that each crack
Each crevass is bared for public consumption
Gritting my teeth
I apply another layer
Thicker and more robust
A harder shell placed between me and reality
A prison of my own making

june 29, 1999