The Shop Of Masks Poem by Natalie Iris

'All of human kind
Please kindly pick a mask you like
The masks are carefully aligned
You need not rush, just take your time
Choose your love and wear it tight.'

'An assortment of colours which you can try
As red as a ruby, a gleaming sun
As blue as a sapphire, a cerulean sky
As yellow as a topaz, the moon's reflection
Such diversity of colours, the colours of rainbows
Aren't they alluring? Purchase them soon! '

The customers ventured, desirously
Fitting themselves in all sorts of masks
Big or small, young or old
They staggered out of the bustling bee-hive
Each of them wearing - a mask.

Down on the busy streets, prosperous
The melancholy melodies began to fade
The flowers bloom with absolute beauty
But the sun, alone, shivered in the shade.

Everyone looked happy, at least, apparently
The adults nodded their heads to one another
The students chattered together merrily
The kids licked their lollipops with a gleam of pleasure
Everything seemed to be so fine, so peaceful.

A man in suit exits from the bank
Looking somewhat dazed
His face, blank.

A cool breeze pierces through him.
The mask cracks.

A tear falls.

But the shopkeeper of the mask shop
Glances, turns and smirks.
He would probably never stop
Calculating his total earnings.

'All of human kind
Please carefully pick the mask you like.
You need not rush, take your time
Choose your love and wear in tight.'