The Pretender

smiling, living through darkness and pain
finding solace in all the scars and sutures
peering through a window at the falling rain
and tearing at the very thought of a lonely future

dreaming of solitude on the islands hallow shores
observing in envy at the happiness in the world
the pretender lives, broken and alone with all his woes
even in crowds, in his heart the blood incessantly curled

but as he moves on through life, the face he wears is strong
a tortured soul, once so full of life, just simply fades
never intending to do anyone any wrong
nursing scars left from serrated edged blades

knowing no fear of man, only fears of responsibility
moving through life, drowning in memories of yesterday
knowing there are others who suffer from life's perpetual complexity
from failed attempts to drown sorrows, dull hangovers everyday

hoping that one day an end will come to this ill-gotten charade
through poetry, comedy, mindless benders and games
reminiscing, memories in a mind so brutally scarred
the pretender lives on, with no self pity or shame

sometimes things do get out of hand and the sorrow does show
many judge and frown in their blissfully ignorant splendor
the unseen pain and sadness, the pretentious folk will never know 
for the vision before them all, is the smile of the great pretender