What a very sad piece. So much sadness. The title caught my attention. And then the title within the stanza broke my heart;

Would any sterling smile
ever ignite
the cold chimneys of these masks?
^

</3

As for your last stanza, You know what they say? (Long live the rose that grew from concrete. When no one else, even cared.)

This whole poem reminded me of an old-forgotten favourite: Bette Midler - The Rose.