masks we wear you

We all wear masks in the ballroom of life,
Never letting anyone peek at what’s behind.

Some are adorned with ribbons and bows,
Others with diamonds and gold.

But when I look into their eyes
I never see reality,
Only the illusion before me—
like a great magician’s flourish.

I never catch the sleight of hand,
the sleight of gaze.

So here we dance in the ballroom of life,
with strangers by design.

We laugh and sing the whole night through,
but the masks remain in place,
even with you.