Masks

As I sit at this bar table,

eating some super delicious pumpkin deep-fried fritters

and reading Joseph Campbell,

I’m noticing when I am overthinking.

Such as how I just walked around for an hour,

deciding where to eat lunch

rather than just making a decision

and enjoying whichever restaurant I choose

(and it’s always delicious).

I realized that I am learning to accept my body

because it’s the only one I have

and I cannot change it.

I look around at the world we’ve created

and realize that this world is just a mask

and the only thing that’s real

are the trees

and my soul

and your soul.

To disrespect ourselves,

each other,

our planet,

is to disrespect the instruments we use to make music,

or the brains we use to feel joy,

or the bodies we use to feel warmth,

or the planet we use to build shelters.

And our moment here with this one ephemeral mask

is just too short

to let it disguise itself

as your true face.

But if our bodies and minds

are the masks we wear

to communicate with our soul

and others’ souls in this universe,

I’d like to choose my mask

and nurture it, protect it, love it,

and devote to what’s real

underneath it.