Reader's Cycle

Sometimes I like to open a book
Especially on days I am sad.
They make good masks that hide my face,
Hide my tears, and why I am mad.

By reading a book I can get lost
And forget all of my worldly care,
As I worry more about the protagonist,
Who is falling now into despair.

This reminds me again of reality,
And again of why I was reading,
How foolish to think I could hide who I was!
But I turn the page, to the end I’m proceeding.

With the final sentence I think "What a good book!"
The hero overcame his fears.
But when I realize this was not me,
My eyes well up with tears.