Monday, June 30, 2008



Masquerade!
Paper faces on parade . . .
Masquerade!
Hide your face,
so the world will
never find you!

Masquerade!
Every face a different shade . . .
Masquerade!
Look around -
there's another
mask behind you!

Flash of mauve . . .
Splash of puce . . .
Fool and king . . .
Ghoul and goose . . .
Green and black . . .
Queen and priest . . .
Trace of rouge . . .
Face of beast . . .

Faces . . .

Take your turn, take a ride
on the merry-go-round . . .
in an inhuman race . . .

Eye of gold . . .
True is false . . .
Who is who . . .?
Curl of lip . . .
Swirl of gown . . .
Ace of hearts . . .
Face of clown . . .

Faces . . .

Drink it in, drink it up,
till you've drowned
in the light . . .
in the sound . . .

But who can name the face . . .?

Masquerade!
Grinning yellows,
spinning reds . . .
Masquerade!
Take your fill -
let the spectacle
astound you!

Masquerade!
Burning glances,
turning heads . . .
Masquerade!
Stop and stare
at the sea of smiles
around you!

Masquerade!
Seething shadows
breathing lies . . .
Masquerade!
You can fool
any friend who
ever knew you!

Masquerade!
Leering satyrs,
peering eyes . . .
Masquerade!
Run and hide -
but a face will
still pursue you!

What a night!
What a crowd!
Makes you glad!
Makes you proud!
All the creme
de la creme!
Watching us watching them!
And all our fears
are in the past!

Six months...
Of relief!
Of delight!
Of Elysian peace!
And we can breathe at last!

No more notes!
No more ghost!
Here's a health!
Here's a toast!
To a prosperous year
To our friends who are here
And may its
splendour never fade!


Six months!
What a joy!
What a change!
What a blessed release!

And what a masquerade!

Masquerade!
Paper faces on parade!
Masquerade!
Hide your face,
so the world will
never find you!

Masquerade!
Every face a different shade!
Masquerade!
Look around -
There's another
mask behind you!

Masquerade!
Burning glances,
turning heads . . .
Masquerade!
Stop and stare
at the sea of smiles
around you!

Masquerade!
Grinning yellows,
spinning reds . . .
Masquerade!
Take your fill -
let the spectacle
astound you!


The sea of masks, each with his (or her?) own mask. Hiding, disguising, concealing. From those far, from those near, from those they hold close and dear. That mocking, white mask that hides everything, showing

only the false beauty that people like, and none

of the true ugliness that lurks beneath the

mask.

Let them grin
Let them smile
Let them laugh
For this while

Until that mask falls off. Until it snaps and tumbles off.

Will everyone turn and look?

Stare as the mask breaks, and look at the true face that lies beneath that mask? Undisguised, revealed. Naked. Every fault and quality exposed.

Will the orchestra stop playing?
Will the dancers stop weaving their intricate web?
Will everyone turn and look?

No. The orchestra will continue, the dancers will dance, and everyone will continue in their endless, tireless facade till their mask breaks, and they fall to the ground, hiding their face.

Why would anyone turn and look?
There are already so many people lying down?