the tragedy of masks

E.ş.

In the black stages of night

In the city

At night they would come together

To the same street corner

At the same time

Knowing

And yet not knowing each other As though they were actors.

Wearing masks

In a play and afraid to reveal Themselves to themselves, The children

Of night-time and pain.

When one of them smiles They all smile,

It is the way of children

To smile

And be happy over small things

Like a friend passing

Or a song to sing

Or a joke

To make people laugh, They are children:

They are the children of night And the city

And their game is a game it takes Courage to play, the courage

That is

Born out of desperation, the game Is the game of masks-

In the black stages of night In the city

They come together like actors

Strange in their parts,

Yet each one

Knowing and not seeming to know His role in the whole tragedy

Of masks

They all play.

one

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