by James Penha
Foot-Combat Helm of Sir Giles Capel (1485–1556) - possibly British - The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Four years ago, I would have seen a mask
certain to prevent a virus from infiltrating.
Now we debate whether masks that can hide
the faces of criminals or immigrants should
be legal. But there are no such restrictions
on the bullies in the region of this museum.
Sir Giles reincarnate, they take on all comers
to this country. They pull brown deliverers out
of their Uber Eats cars… they tackle innocents
checking in at the courthouse… they wrestle
workers from warehouses… and pound them
down with their bulk into our halls and streets.
Who are you? let an observer ask. The answer
is the mask. Steeled as a weapon for white
Christian nationalists, it will hear no objection
from the White House overseers of art. Indeed,
I can imagine this helm set on a block of ice
emblematic of our new divine right of kings.
James Penha hosts The New Verse News. His short story collection Queer As Folk Tales really needs good reviews at amazon but can be bought at non-bezos outlets as well.