We Wear the Mask (Poem)

SeanJohn

BY PAUL LAURENCE DUNBAR
: ?  T  D$ Y/ m' d# k. C9 k- OWe wear the mask that grins and lies,
7 l: n! A: g7 l, T. t. Y" AIt hides our cheeks and shades our eyes,—
This debt we pay to human guile;
With torn and bleeding hearts we smile,
And mouth with myriad subtleties.
  Q4 _# S- G0 z; w2 `/ c( d
Why should the world be over-wise,
In counting all our tears and sighs?
- p# ?; t$ h! Z4 c9 UNay, let them only see us, while
       We wear the mask.

" J" |8 r3 z% T* g$ |7 m- i0 UWe smile, but, O great Christ, our cries
% X2 p* t8 p" bTo thee from tortured souls arise.
We sing, but oh the clay is vile
Beneath our feet, and long the mile;
# o, w3 j. b4 X- q9 pBut let the world dream otherwise,
/ z& Y/ v7 a3 a$ f: O& D7 `& d       We wear the mask!