Masskara Festival

Copyright © 2009 by Chester B Cabalza. All Rights Reserved.


The street has grown merry, smiles of
Mammoth people crowd the square, beside
Ice cream vendors, toys and other stuffs
Lined across the pavements.
This time cheers thrill the vicinity, bells
Of the church, loudspeakers, on both sides
Of the street, tourists as well as strangers,
A throng of different people, perennial,
Colossal, spread out to witness performers

In between a merry street, blithe
Performers with their masks, masks that
Express twitter smiles, cheers, yells,
Like this: “Oha haha…”
They all gather in a festivity, dance
Around the people, choreographed, curious
Of that enchanting mask, with ornaments like
A peacock, dressed in colorful costumes.
Group by group, band by band,
Like a tribe goes fighting, dance and music

Surround thin air, though, nimbus clouds seem
To conquer the dark sky but floats
Just arrive, like a pageant, a Mardi gras
Drum and bugle corps begin
To play the instruments, snappy,
Joyfully reinvigorating a place,
Bounty of sugarcanes,
Sweet and smiling people

Face to face, images of disguises,
Poises and poses in front of flashes,
Spectacles of unknown souls,
With masks covering the faces,
Full of curiosity,
In a bizarre place:
Full of merry people…

I’ve been to a masquerade

From: Chester Cabalza's Collection of Poems
Strings of Womders and other Poems (Feb 2007)