In the Shadow of the Mask
A weight presses down,
stones stacked upon my chest,
each one a silent vow to endure.
I carry it all-
the deadlines, the doubts,
the threats that lurk like code gone rogue,
until my bones groan,
until the crush feels certain.
I am a sentinel,
trained to guard against collapse,
but who guards the guard when darkness falls?
stones stacked upon my chest,
each one a silent vow to endure.
I carry it all-
the deadlines, the doubts,
the threats that lurk like code gone rogue,
until my bones groan,
until the crush feels certain.
I am a sentinel,
trained to guard against collapse,
but who guards the guard when darkness falls?
I’m worn out from masking,
from weaving a face that isn’t mine.
In boardrooms, I am steel,
a leader who never falters.
At home, I am smiles,
a shadow playing at light.
The mask is heavy,
its edges cutting into my truth,
and I am so tired
of pretending I am whole.
from weaving a face that isn’t mine.
In boardrooms, I am steel,
a leader who never falters.
At home, I am smiles,
a shadow playing at light.
The mask is heavy,
its edges cutting into my truth,
and I am so tired
of pretending I am whole.
A Satanic whisper slithers near,
hissing of failure, of fracture,
its voice a blade in the quiet.
But I’d rather hear
a still small voice,
soft as a breath,
clear as a star in the black.
It speaks of rest,
of a place beyond this weight,
but it’s faint,
drowned by the clamor of my fear.
hissing of failure, of fracture,
its voice a blade in the quiet.
But I’d rather hear
a still small voice,
soft as a breath,
clear as a star in the black.
It speaks of rest,
of a place beyond this weight,
but it’s faint,
drowned by the clamor of my fear.
I am in a very dark place,
where shadows swallow sound.
I want to reach out,
to clasp a hand,
to feel the warmth of another’s care.
But what if I’m slapped away?
What if my plea is met with cold,
or worse, with nothing at all?
So I stay silent,
curled in this obsidian cage,
the weight my only companion.
where shadows swallow sound.
I want to reach out,
to clasp a hand,
to feel the warmth of another’s care.
But what if I’m slapped away?
What if my plea is met with cold,
or worse, with nothing at all?
So I stay silent,
curled in this obsidian cage,
the weight my only companion.
Yet somewhere,
a crack lets light slip through.
A word scrawled in the dark,
a step toward a voice that listens,
a moment when the mask slips
and I am simply me.
The still small voice hums,
not loud, but steady,
promising I am not alone.
I reach, trembling,
and find the weight
just a little lighter
when I dare to speak its name.
a crack lets light slip through.
A word scrawled in the dark,
a step toward a voice that listens,
a moment when the mask slips
and I am simply me.
The still small voice hums,
not loud, but steady,
promising I am not alone.
I reach, trembling,
and find the weight
just a little lighter
when I dare to speak its name.
Mental Health Awareness Resources
If you or someone you know is struggling, you are not alone. These organizations provide help, guidance, and support during Mental Health Awareness Month and beyond:
- National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)
- SAMHSA National Helpline (1-800-662-HELP)
- 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
- MentalHealth.gov – U.S. Government Resource
- Crisis Text Line – Text HOME to 741741
- American Foundation for Suicide Prevention
Mental Health Awareness Month is an opportunity to reduce stigma, open up conversations, and encourage people to seek help when they need it most.
