We Wear the Mask (Poem)

SeanJohn

BY PAUL LAURENCE DUNBAR
We wear the mask that grins and lies,
It hides our cheeks and shades our eyes,—
8 n1 e9 `! e" O$ K2 y5 L4 Q; JThis debt we pay to human guile;
With torn and bleeding hearts we smile,
; N+ E& Y/ k  qAnd mouth with myriad subtleties.
' b1 n, q. o* N% \
Why should the world be over-wise,
( o! |( X8 J+ |. ~4 e3 YIn counting all our tears and sighs?
3 }; ?) e& Z: V2 l/ u  e- b6 PNay, let them only see us, while
7 E! p/ }- w8 J$ M       We wear the mask.

We smile, but, O great Christ, our cries
2 F2 G2 R* l1 d. h: v' x2 vTo thee from tortured souls arise.
  |8 g2 g% \2 q; Q, r% hWe sing, but oh the clay is vile
5 e& e" r$ _+ j8 w8 ~' ?Beneath our feet, and long the mile;
7 |1 C7 E/ o& `! B! uBut let the world dream otherwise,
       We wear the mask!