O Make me a Mask by Dylan Thomas
The poem explores the theme of mortality and the inevitability of death, using a mask as a metaphor for the human face that hides our true selves. The speaker creates a mask to conceal their emotions and thoughts, but ultimately realizes that it cannot protect them from the reality of death. The poem is a meditation on the transience of life and the futility of trying to escape or deny mortality.
By Dylan Thomas · First published 1945 · Genre: Poetry, Modernist, Symbolism · 151 words
First lines
O make me a mask and a wall to shut from your spies Of the sharp, enamelled eyes and the spectacled claws Rape and rebellion in the nurseries of my face, Gag of a dumbstruck tree to block from bare enemies
The bayonet tongue in this undefended prayerpiece, The present mouth, and the sweetly blown trumpet of lies, Shaped in old armour and oak the countenance of a dunce To shield the glistening brain and blunt the examiners, And a tear-stained widower grief drooped from the lashes
To veil belladonna and let the dry eyes perceive Others betray the lamenting lies of their losses By the curve of the nude mouth or the laugh up the sleeve.
What this Textopian page supports
O Make me a Mask is listed on Textopian as a poem by Dylan Thomas, dated 1945 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Poem
- Author: Dylan Thomas
- Date: 1945 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Poetry, Modernist, Symbolism, Psychological, Surrealism
- Length: 151 words
- Structure: 1 section, 3 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Very Confusing
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Genres
- Poetry — The work is structured in verse form, utilizing poetic devices such as metaphor, imagery, and rhythm.
- Modernist — The themes of identity, alienation, and the use of complex imagery align with Modernist literary characteristics.
- Symbolism — The poem employs symbolic language to convey deeper meanings about identity and perception.
- Psychological — Explores the inner psyche and emotional struggles of the speaker, reflecting psychological depth.
Tags
Poetry · Drama · Tragedy · Masks · Identity · Self-discovery · Existentialism · Philosophy · Psychological Insight · Human Condition · Emotional Depth · Inner Turmoil