The Masks We Choose

Tonight the world is velvet-dark,

and every porch light hums with magic.

We paint our faces in glitter and ghost dust,

lace up boots that make us bolder,

pull on capes stitched from dreams we forgot we had.

It’s the one night the world applauds pretending,

yet somehow, in the make-believe,

we tell the truth.

The witch is a girl who loves her power.

The knight is a boy who craves the chance to protect.

The monster only wants to be seen and still adored.

Under the mask, we glow a little braver.

Candy in hand, laughter in the air,

we meet ourselves in costume,

realizing freedom isn’t found in hiding,

but in letting the world see

what we’ve always wanted to be.