We Wear the Mask (Poem)

SeanJohn

BY PAUL LAURENCE DUNBAR
* v! i5 Z$ `& o( `. aWe wear the mask that grins and lies,
It hides our cheeks and shades our eyes,—
This debt we pay to human guile;
# n+ y) H0 p( K5 D) N% _  LWith torn and bleeding hearts we smile,
And mouth with myriad subtleties.

6 F, t, f0 x# j2 S6 a) iWhy should the world be over-wise,
( e; @9 J1 ]0 R- p) sIn counting all our tears and sighs?
Nay, let them only see us, while
       We wear the mask.

We smile, but, O great Christ, our cries
To thee from tortured souls arise.
We sing, but oh the clay is vile
3 z' k8 f, \- _( \Beneath our feet, and long the mile;
) ~; n5 e2 f% K; H! Q  U# ~0 xBut let the world dream otherwise,
       We wear the mask!