Where The Masked Ones Live

 Stumbling through the door,
falling into the chaos
Rat race, fully awakened

Calloused hands wipe away the night,
from my ink stained face
Camouflaged, shielded

Nerve endings sparking to life,
concentrate, breathe, move
One foot after the other

Strangers with blank faces,
passing by, warp into beasts
Whispers on the wind

Head turning, stare down every enemy
Calloused hands wipe away the fear
Secured, reinforced, safe

Eyes glued to a page,
the same page as yesterday
Mind racing, ink rising

Running, I'm running
My mind, my body, my soul
Back to where the masked ones live

Back to the silence
Fading back, into the shadows,
where the masked ones belong

Unfasten, one last glance
Calloused hands wiping away,
the smile of a day endured

Never cut out for this world,
Alone, finally able to look up
Vision blurred through ink

Calloused hands opening the safe
Metal slamming shut, locking away

My mask