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Writer's pictureSurviving Breast Cancer

The Mask

By Dawn Oswald


Mask

Why do we wear them?

Is it to hide?

To mask our pain?

Is it for a party?

To enjoy life?

Mask, why do you wear them?

I put on a mask for my brave face

For my family

Masks can be sad or happy

They can be beautiful or ugly

Masks can be worn throughout the day

What would your mask look like?

The mask can be changed at any time

Just as people change their hats

A mask for this

A mask for that

Wear it for whatever reason

To be brave

To just be sad for a moment

To be glad

To be powerful

To help others

Do you mask your pain so others don’t worry?

Do you say I am good or say I am okay?

Is it harder to lie or tell the truth?

Is it a lie if you don’t want them to worry?

Do you mask your quality of life?

Do you do one day at a time like me?

That’s what I tell people to do: “One day at a time.”

Do you mask your sadness or depression?

Do you ask for help?

I wear multiple masks

A mask to help you, to help me, to help everyone

A mask of laughter, love, of concern, patience and of hope

Masks can be of many colors

The color of a rainbow

It can be black or white

A mask of different faces: sad, happy, grieving, or even scared

It can be whatever you want it to be

It is your mask

You chose what mask you want to wear

What mask do you have on today

Wear it proud

I am going to wear my mask of bravery, love, hope and caring for us all




 

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