talking after the show is over

it's a mask

of sorts,

a costume of goodness.

a white

robe

a painted smile,

but then

it slips

and falls to the stage

floor,

dark words come

out.

it's what you

suspected

all along.

there's the show, and

then

there's after

the show,

when

the curtain closes

and no one else

is around.