Image: Barbara Ryther
So Many Masks
Masks for Halloween.
Masks for Carnival.
Masks for mystery and surprise.
Starting as children we think masks are fun.
Yet the older we get the more practice we get with other masks.
Masks to hide our pride or our embarrassment
Masks to hide our envy or our boredom
Masks to hide our anger or our pain.
But the masks we wear today are different
These masks are not always fun but neither are they for hiding.
Lovingly hand sewn, improvised, or professional
With bright colors and patterns, wit and humor,slogans and symbols
Masks of all designs.
Strangers meet
We nod
Our eyes smile
Sometimes we shrug
As if to say “Isn’t this strange?”
This mask is for you
I don’t know you, but I am responsible for you
We are responsible for each other
I care about you
We care about each other
Because if we didn’t, what would we care about?
Barbara Ryther