Two Faces Are Better Than One Poem by Lonnie Hicks

She carefully took off her face
which she then delicately placed
in a row with her other ones
and she sought a new shinier mask
with which to face the Gathering Night..

She plucked from her Personality Box
a perky, flirty model,
changeable first cold
and then blowing sexy hot
adding to this a mysterious air
from her mood selection repertoire.

These were plied on with make-up
and sweet pouty expressions;
eyes glinting aqua green
from new aqua-marine contact lenses;
she draped her hips with satin and velveteen
daring the full length mirror
to deny her as the prettiest one
who would attend the party that night.

He took off his silly face-
the clown mask-
replacing it with his hero veil,
stern look, and manly pose
and pronouncing himself
an action figure
ready for the evening's gambol.

So marching to their home's door
they faded into the grey light
confident in the faith
that reality's appearances
need only fool a few
for just one important night.

After that
another face is always there
for choosing with just a few minor repairs
can be made serviceable
for another round of night,
of masks, mystery, appearances
in the misty
grey light
of misty
grey lives;
now clinging to
the reality
that sometimes
all that matters
is momentary appearances.
Sad, but true
but understand
it is useful too
in this our society's
masquerade.

After all
should we ban Carnival
in favor of Abstract Reality?