The Mask

I was chopping vegetables,

whimsical muse struck.

I made a mask,

with bell pepper and carrot,

gave it to my daughter,

then, four.

I told her,

we all are wearing masks,

hypocrisy is rampant,

try to develop intuition,

to not believe in words,

but verify facts

by facial expressions,

and body language,

how humans behave:

something in mind,

something in mouth.

Now she is six,

sharp like a tack.

Guests were about to come.

She says "time to wear a mask?

Do you have a cold?

Are you afraid of catching cold?”,

I ask with concern.

She smiled, winked,

and said:

“Mask of warmth

and good behavior,

around new people.”