and in this land of secret make believe,
we all pretend there's nothing wrong.

in the day, we prance by in our pink hoop skirts,
parasols and bonnets blocking out the sun.

we giggle, and smile, and greet those we don't know
we whisper about our neighbors, just like any other town.

then at night, it changes.

we put on our black and silver masquerade gowns
glittering and glistening eye masks.

on the beach, we dip and dance and twirl.
the sound of the crashing waves is our song.

our lives are not our own.

tonight, our identities disappear.