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Frastus Recapitulates Phylogeny, Whilst and at the Same Time Juggling His SkullTo J. B. Mulligan's previous piece     But He Keeps on TryingTo J. B. Mulligan's next piece
the Mask of Frastus

What is the Mask of Frastus?
The low humor and odored puns
that he hides behind,
the greasepaint of adolescent snickering
to cover blemishes of pain
or cowardice - what does it mean?

Is it his real face,
painted to look like a mask,
a purloined letter face
hiding itself in itself?

Or is it a brown paper bag
with holes cut out for the eyes
and a red crayon mouth
smiling?

Frastus doesn't know.
Why should you?