Baubles From Bones: Issue 4
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Micro-OLED Mask

Casey Aimer

I keep a micro-OLED mask on my face,

pretending to be a cyborg for others

so they expect proficiency and less

social interaction. A neutral mirror lit

with my emotions, it’s how I sync

to unhinged human dispositions.

It’s easy to be loved, always

displaying the perfect face.

But I keep my distance now,

refuse to fall in love again.

Some fall in love with the mask,

my pristine variable persona.

Three times I’ve revealed my-

self, watched lips purse and

scream because who I am

beneath isn’t what they fell for.

Now the mask stays a corset

so long I’m indistinguishable

from a cyborg, as requested.

No more miscommunicated

pretending, no more inter-

personal contact torture.

No more me.

Baubles From Bones: Issue 4
​Available for purchase:
Physical (NA)
Physical (Int'l)
Digital
Subscribe

Casey Aimer

Casey Aimer is a cyberpunk poet and editor who holds master’s degrees in both poetry and publishing. He works for a non-profit publishing science research articles and is founder of Radon Journal, an anarchist science fiction publisher. His poetry has been featured in Strange Horizons, Space and Time Magazine, Apparition Lit, Star*Line, and many more. An SFWA and SFPA member, his work has been a Rhysling Award finalist and Soft Star Magazine contest winner. He can be found on Bluesky and CaseyAimer.com.

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