Photo by Llanydd Lloyd
Worn on Halloween and Mardi Gras,
there was a time and place when masks,
like in Verdi’s Ballo in Maschera,
were a sign of great celebrity.
The Dogon of Mali were known best
for the Awa who wore wooden masks
to dance their dead to a final rest
or herald the Dog Star rising.
But nowadays masks are common place—
they cover our noses and our mouths
to hide the fear that runs across our face
and keep the contagion to ourselves
Once accessories for festivities,
masks,
have now become necessities.
The Author
Paul Iasevoli holds a Master’s in Latin-American Literature. His poetry and prose have appeared in various journals including Cathexis, High Shelf Press, Cleaning Up Glitter, and Deep South Magazine where he was a winner of Honorable Mention in their 2018 Race in Place short story competition. He is the current Executive Vice President of Administration & Membership for the Florida Writers Association.
Paul Iasevoli
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