THE DANCE OF TIME
Wearing Noh* masks upon the stage
how large each player struts his many roles -
the hero, lover, sage, and great of heart,
the prating braggart, liar, clown and knave.
Yet when the cosmic curtain drops
and masks are laid aside,
Time turns to choreography
reducing men to common motes of dust
dancing in sunbeams of eternity.
* Japanese actors often play several roles in a play.
They don masks called Noh for each part taken.
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