Don’t stand there

looking at me like that

          At least give me time

          to put on one of my masks

          there were seven false faces

          I brought along to this costume ball

          just to be safe

          but I seem to have mislaid them somewhere

Independence was stolen one stormy night last year

          while I watched you follow someone

          into a room

          and close the door behind you

Anger I haven’t been able to wear

          since the day I hurt you with it

Pride I impulsively tossed out the window

          when I called

          to tell you I was sorry

Detachment, I guess, is permanently lost

          now that your smile

          brings a lump to my throat

          I can’t swallow

Amusement disappeared without warning

          the morning I first knew

          what your eyes were asking

Frigidity melted forever

          the moment you touched me

Now, stripped of my protective cloak of poise

I toss my hair too often over my shoulder

tear napkins to shreds

order drinks I never finish

break match sticks into small pieces

          What will I do to cover my trembling

          when all my disguises are gone?

The only one left is Caution

and it almost flew out of my hands, just now

when I turned to go

and thought I heard you say

          “Please stay”