Masks

[Kaldwin]

Hi!

I wrote this for Purim 2013. More spiritual angst.

Twisting, contorting as we try to force it
and stuff ourselves in life's corset,
Quite a lovely bit of visual imagery. Nice start to the poem.
playing a thousand roles with nary a fuss
leading, supporting, but never us. - this doesn't entirely make sense to me.


No more maddening scheme could be devised,
on display, in the open, yet disguised,
as we slog along, not dance, not hike
being who we must, not who we'd like.
Another comment on the pressure to conform, and the weight of society on our backs. This is not quite as poetic as the first two lines, and I wonder if it is perhaps redundant.

But comes Purim and the briefest chance
to offer the world, and ourselves, a fleeting glance - a bit lengthy.
of who we are, in garb and mask.
Dare we now take up the task?

To hide? Without, perhaps.
But inside something deeper taps.
The mask offers yet a glimpse
of what routine routinely crimps.

Under cloak of a Purimspiel
take a dare, be brave, be real!
Choose a mask but if you do,
know that the mask might unmask you. - I had to think about this line for a while. I think I get the general feelings of the poem, but I feel you could've phrased it a bit better.

Nu?

nb

All in all, quite a nice piece.