The Mask

Tis night the true democracy

When as the day

Like some great Monarch

With his train has passed by

In regal pomp and splendor.

The stars above shine bright for all we know

along the Milky Way.

As jostling crowds in radiant disarray

pass down Broad Boulevard in pageants vast.

We dance we play we parade down the street

wearing our bright colors to our delight

Over our face we wear our mask

To cover our fears

Disguise the sadness

The loneliness within our soul.

Hearing the music in the distance

The laughter of those along the way.

Hiding behind the bright colors

We dress to the occasion we laugh, sing, dancing along the way.

When daylight comes into the shadow we go

Letting our mask fall to our side

Looking inside knowing that for a time

We thought we were happy our fears at bay dancing along the way.

Each one of us playing our part in the

Mardi Gras of Night

Ranie Patridis