Fake Smiles

By Lucian Bergeron

In masks we find solace, smiles that deceive,

A gentle masquerade, a subtle reprieve.

Beneath the facade, the pain resides,

Wrapped in shadows where truth often hides.

The painted grins, like fragile glaze,

Fragrant blossoms in a secret maze.

Each curve, each beam, a token disguise,

Concealing wounds behind a stoic guise.

A smile that dances on lips so weak,

Conveying joy, yet from sorrow does speak.

Eyes that shimmer, concealing tears held dear,

Enduring agony, only memories hear.

The world may not glimpse the tears that flow,

Hidden beneath laughter's radiant show.

But inside, the heart aches, silently reeling,

Crushed hopes, shattered dreams, the pain concealing.

Yet in this act of strength, there lies a truth,

A testament to resilience, an eternal refuge.

For within the pain, there's a warrior's heart,

A spirit unyielding, refusing to fall apart.

So let the smiles persist, like sunbeams in rain,

For beneath the facade, strength does remain.

Though battles unseen, they shape and define,

A smile grown through pain, radiant and divine.