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La Maschera

by Cherie Konyha Greene

Affixing his creation to his face
he masks his native countenance of skin.
A shaman’s visage veils the commonplace,
allowing what was buried to be seen.
He disinters the shrouded Harlequin
from deep beneath the strata of control,
and brushes off the savage chained within —
the feral face — the prehistoric soul.
This artificial front made up for show
unbinds instinct and cages forged restraint.
It makes the masked essence corporeal,
this paradox of leather brow, of paint,
of pulp and paste: he holds his guise concealed
and hides himself, that he may be revealed.


Physically, Cherie Konyha Greene lives in New Hampshire. Her mind spends a good deal of time elsewhere (and elsewhen), as she’s currently working on a novel that takes place in Italy in 1518 — 1520 and concerns the adventures of a professional clown and several amateur actors. Other poems of hers, along with lots of photos, can be seen at http://lion-feathers.deviantart.com/gallery/ .

Pat Jones
Published 29 March 2011