We Wear the Mask (Poem)

SeanJohn

BY PAUL LAURENCE DUNBAR
4 C) N8 _4 g7 ~, |We wear the mask that grins and lies,
It hides our cheeks and shades our eyes,—
This debt we pay to human guile;
) }6 U& _$ s! s( X' E# w& H3 TWith torn and bleeding hearts we smile,
And mouth with myriad subtleties.
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3 Y3 B; R; [4 `: }Why should the world be over-wise,
In counting all our tears and sighs?
Nay, let them only see us, while
       We wear the mask.
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* |( J5 c9 V3 I, l& q+ aWe smile, but, O great Christ, our cries
To thee from tortured souls arise.
We sing, but oh the clay is vile
" ?& o- ?& h2 g$ ^/ j2 tBeneath our feet, and long the mile;
But let the world dream otherwise,
       We wear the mask!