Throwing In Your Lot

Throwing In Your Lot

At some point
You have to throw in your lot
With that which you favor.
When you do
Paint your face
With burnt cork
Or white chalk
It does not matter.

You must hide behind the mask
Worn by those
Who have not thrown
Their lot in with you,
For it is the mask you want to change.

People first see
What it is they want to see,
But whether they want it or not,
They are changed by what they do see.

Wear the mask
Worn by those
Who have not
Thrown their lot in with you.
They will only see themselves,
But they will become you.