A Carnival of Masks

A kind smile 

A steady hand

A shared joke

Leads to

A sweet laugh

A twinkling eye

A warm hug 

They have my love

Even after they turn away

And take off their masks

The smile turns twisted

The hand withdraws

The joke is stabbed at me in mockery 

Leading to a laugh dripping with betrayal 

The eyes now hold their sparkles like guns 

Ready to fire every time I meet them

The hug comes, yes 

But then comes the dagger 

That’s my life, I relive it every day 

A carnival of masks

~E. E. Huckabee