Hidden lives and secret dreams

Hidden lives and secret dreams
each one of us bears
that which we do not want others to know.
buried deep and locked away tight,
hiding from the world.
Masks are worn and outfits are fitted
shielding ourselves from each other.
we seek to remain dark,
emotions unknown,
we hide and whisper
and conspire.
For without these layers,
these masks,
these clothes,
we feel open and exposed.
With no one to talk to and no one to trust,
we writhe and torment inside.
we try to forget what we hold locked up,
but twist and contort from within.
How can they know?
No one knows what I'm feeling?
How can they understand?
the whispers from within hold your mind in their grasp
with threats and judgments of pain.
If we but open our hearts, and release those writhing thoughts,
then peace can enter, and love remain
and hidden lives and secret dreams
need bother us no more.