cakeface

the tears crack the
layers
of this face i carefully apply each morning

and i peel back
the strong

and i quiet the heart that
beats and pounds
inside my chest

and i wonder
i if am enough
to chase the demons away.

i long for talks with my father
about how he made it through
deep down, i know, i will too

but first i must get on the other side of this night
i must dry the tears
i must paint the face
you are most comfortable with.

i mend the cracks
trim the hedges
company's coming over
that's when we clean the house.