Mask

they tell us that the mask is to help us breathe

to block out the ash

to protect our faces from the radiation

but I wonder

if maybe it’s so we can’t see the fear on each other’s faces

if maybe it’s so we don’t know which of our comrades torched the screaming family

if maybe it’s so we’ll forget that once we had our own faces

I wonder

do they know that I remember?

that behind this mask I’m dreaming of the day they will incinerate

in these same flames that stole me and left my brother to die