All Hallows Eve, Mardi Gras, Masquerade balls, wedding veils and now our secret masks we don while in our online Facebook existence. Cripes! Even the Birdman wears one on his blog site. Aren't a lot of our days filled with hiding behind different masks? Is that a bad thing?
We Wear the Mask
WE wear the mask that grins and lies,
It hides our cheeks and shades our eyes,—
This debt we pay to human guile;
With torn and bleeding hearts we smile,
And mouth with myriad subtleties.
Why should the world be over-wise,
In counting all our tears and sighs?
Nay, let them only see us, while
We wear the mask.
We smile, but, O great Lord, our cries
To thee from tortured souls arise.
We sing, but oh the clay is vile
Beneath our feet, and long the mile;
But let the world dream otherwise,
We wear the mask! Paul Laurence Dunbar (1872-1906)
An online virtual gathering is what Facebook is
ReplyDeleteAll those who scorn this opportunity be, a dis?
Cast you all into a life of mixed identity.
For it can be the future for all
But we rue the day to those who fall.
Naysayers of FB may fly high into the sky
Please oh please, give faith, why deny?
You may wear a mask on your blog, Birdman, but I saw no evidence of one at Bull Feeney's.
ReplyDeleteI guess it becomes a problem if one needs the mask.
ReplyDeleteI always used this poem when I taught the Harlem Renaissance unit. Students loved to discuss how we use masks (make-up, veils, for example) the purpose and results. Great photo and reminds me of Carnaval in Mazatlán, México!
ReplyDeleteGreat photo, and excellent verse. Is this yours? Very nice.
ReplyDeleteNope, Kitty, that was me in living color, foibles and all.
ReplyDeleteOur face masks our soul.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful mask.
ReplyDeleteThis is so eye-catching! Very cool shot!
ReplyDelete