Like In a hall of mirrors, I have a twisted laugh -
I’m being tricked here with some low cunning menace
Long hooked noses and grins too wide by half
Like the carnivals of Venice.

The ring is closing tighter in on me
Grabbing me and pulling me into the dance
Good god, it seems that now they see
My plain face as a mask here - what a chance!

Rapiers, confetti... but somethings wrong
The masks are staring harshly like old crows
Shouting I am out of time - your steps too long
And you’re treading on your partner’s toes.

What should I do? Should I grab the chance and flee?
Or stay and have some fun in this strange place?
I really hope that you beneath the beast mask see
A natural, living human face.

All in masks, all in wigs - they’re all in tune
Some gothic tales, some fantasy, some literary
Here’s a sad harlequin and an old pantaloon
A hangman, a jester, and a fairy.

This one has painted his face all white
This other here entirely hides his face
These others, well, you cannot tell quite
What’s their mask and what their real face.

I’m joining in the roundelay, laughing mad,
But I admit I am quite uneasy still
What if someone likes the hangman’s mask and
He won’t take if off and never will?

What if the harlequin stays forever sad,
Growing to like his melancholy ways?
What it the fool never drops his mad
Look, even on his ordinary face?

No, I don’t want to miss a face that’s kind
But how can I tell which is true?
Each uses a mask to hide behind
To save smashing their face if left on view.

But I’ve learned the truth of their facial disguise
I’m sure my study’s now got it
In this their mask of indifference lies
A shield from the cold slap and hot spit.

I’ll pursue these masks upon their heels
But I’ll not ask them to uncover or displace.
What if when the mask falls it reveals
The very same half mask and half face.