My inner me

I wear my humour like a mask
Every joke and funny story told
Hides the inner me

I wear my sarcasm like a shield
Every jibe and verbal thrust
Protects the inner me

I wear my charm like a cloak
Every vivacious smile and word
Camouflages the inner me

I wear my bravado like a sword
Every swagger and proud retort
Guards the inner me

My inner me loves peace and quiet
And analyze things for hours
My inner me loves to weep during sad movies
And observes the world with childlike wonder

My inner me is easily hurt by callous comments
And devastated by cruelty
My inner me is soft as thistle and elusive as waves
And needs to be buffered from others

And so when I drop my outer defences
And let you glimpse my softer side
Understand how gifted you are
That you get to see the inner me