At first I was drawn to him
because I was thirsty
He was the only one for miles
around.
He wouldn’t look at me or any
other customer around though.
He was “hip”
He had a makeshift mask made from
an extra T-shirt
Wish I could genuinely say he was
the ideal salesman; drawing attention from his face to his merchandise.
Then like a revealing wave, the
wind blew the mask off part of his face.
Then I understood
Don’t know if anyone else noticed
but I did.
He was imperfect!
He was unworthy to breathe the
same polluted air I breathed every day.
He was terribly scarred.
See your hypocritically
judgmental face.
You see, he was flawed, damaged.
His scars were not hidden like
the rest of us
His scars were visible
There was no way he could be “the
emperor with the new clothes, even for a second”.
Pity made me drink from the
coconut I had already ordered
The drink which curiously tasted
like quinine tonic
Guilt made me go back the following day.....
and the day after
In my skewed thoughts I was helping
him bear the burden of the mask that society had placed over his head
Not help him take it off.....no!
Just to help him keep it on so
society can feel comfortable
He still keeps it on but I wonder
I wonder if he ever dares take
our sanctioned mask off
I wonder if any one of us is
brave enough to kiss him goodnight
And to kiss him good morning when
he wakes
And I wonder if the breeze
secretly makes love to his face in the darkness
Away from our disapproving eyes
And I wonder if he ever lets her.
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