The Silent Archive

What is it that I lack 

You’re standing there in all black 

Acting like the world is over 

But your pathway is made of roses 

What is it that you see

When you turn and look at me

Is it pain

Is it agony

Or pure exhaustion  

Or do you see the mask that’s now stuck to my face

Are you hurting because you need to 

Are you begging your eyes to stay closed 

Because pathways don’t pave themselves 

Love doesn’t make itself known unless you act

But I fear that when you look at me

You see yourself and what you want to be 

But do you see my eyes bleeding 

Head leaning 

Mind steaming 

Or do you see the person you have painted 

A perfect vision of yourself, cascaded in red 

Always left on read 

Only there to make you smile

Only worth it for a little while

—Rose Hollow—