So I have learned many things, son.
I have learned to wear many faces
like dresses - homeface,
officeface, streetface, hostface,
cocktailface, with all their conforming smiles
like a fixed portrait smile.
Question 1: What does the speaker mean by "wearing many faces like dresses"?
Answer: The speaker means that they have learned to adopt different personas or facades depending on the situation or environment they are in, akin to changing dresses.
Question 2: How does the speaker describe the smiles associated with each "face"?
Answer: The smiles associated with each "face" are described as "conforming smiles," suggesting that they are insincere or artificial, akin to a fixed portrait smile.
Question 3: What does the repetition of "face" emphasize in the stanza?
Answer: The repetition of "face" emphasizes the various roles or personas the speaker adopts in different contexts, highlighting the multifaceted nature of their identity and the masks they wear to conform to social expectations.