To Wear a Mask

by Delirium's Child

short poem, from Jareth's pov.

Note: Posted to the Labyrinth Fan Fiction List on Sat, 22 Jan 2000. Voted Best Poem 2000

To Wear a Mask

I do what you want when you ask.

I bow to your will,Don this tragic smiling mask.

But you don't notice the mask hides a frown,

And all the tears streaming down.

I should get an Emmy for this laughter-

Screaming inside, beginning to shatter.

What a lovely game I play,

Keeping illusions up night and day.

Hiding the frown, the pain,

I try to open, but in vain.

So I put on the tragic happy mask,

And go on doing as you ask.