When the mask becomes the face

By Virginia Jasmin Pasalo

 

FOR some, the smile is visible in the eyes. These days, however, every smile is hidden in the mask. The mask hides the true nature of what goes on behind it, especially the complexity of the tensions that characterize the reality of a situation. History taught us that the mask can become the face of the one who wears it, encouraging a post-truth, blurring the facts, and creating a new reality. The mask, when allowed to engulf the face for so long, imbeds itself, and becomes the face.

 

The mask of the jigsaw

you are a name

a name i have spoken

mantra of my consciousness

the beating of my heart

 

but maybe not the real name

of the person behind the face

maybe the face is not even the face

of the name behind the name

 

you are someone else’s behind

the behind hiding underneath

a mask, of the mask

refusing to unmask, a name

 

One day, I might hear the tale

and see the tail, a hint of hair

falling, in the long wait

to match your face,

with your name.

 

La máscara del rompecabezas

Traducción del inglés por Luz María López

usted es un nombre

un nombre que he pronunciado

mantra de mi conciencia

el latido de mi corazón

 

pero quizás no el nombre real

de la persona detrás del rostro

tal vez el rostro no es ni siquiera el rostro

del nombre detrás del nombre

 

usted es alguien otro por detrás

el por detrás escondiéndose debajo

una máscara, de la máscara

negándose a desenmascarar, un nombre

 

un día, yo podría escuchar el cuento

y ver el final, una pizca de pelo

cayendo, en la larga espera

para emparejar su cara,

con su nombre.

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