Pretender

I'm a pretender
You look right at me,
but I'm not there for you to see
I dance the dance of marionettes
On prearranged monochrome sets
I'm a pretender
The smile you see, given back to me
My mask is painted by society
It fits me well within the contours
It's very different than that of yours
I'm a pretender
I take it off when you don't look
I steal impressions like a crook
I dance to your tin can tune
Half glance towards the moon
I'm a pretender
Strings twitching here and there
Twirling in the cold dry air
Illusions of day keep them at bay
I know you all prefer it that way
We are all pretenders