Bright lights—every color of the rainbow Loud noises waiting at each corner There, in the middle of the circus, stood the performers—ordinary people They bent, they smiled, they bowed too low worked until their bones ached hands trembling from tireless effort all just to please the watching crowd They laughed when told to laugh spoke only what was wanted became what they were ordered to be And all of them wore masks— painted wide with perfect smiles hiding the cracks beneath hiding the wear, the truth, the strain Masks they could never remove not while eyes were watching I glanced around at the visitors— no ordinary crowd People of wealth fortunes beyond imagination riches past our farthest dreams They watched, untouched, unmoved while the masked performed below Riches enough to blind them riches enough to bury every sin