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,—
, f5 e, b9 J+ YThis debt we pay to human guile;
With torn and bleeding hearts we smile,
: v7 }0 ^" J! E' N3 l' l) @3 OAnd mouth with myriad subtleties.
$ |9 v8 J3 ]; q( ]6 i2 v- ^- e; v
. X5 q( ^; R( a# u$ R" NWhy should the world be over-wise,
In counting all our tears and sighs?
2 c/ D  U- l4 @% @$ L' O. ZNay, let them only see us, while
8 D' v: M6 c1 E0 G" \       We wear the mask.
8 c2 ~9 R$ T0 Z5 D" n
" ^3 S% L* R( {We smile, but, O great Christ, our cries
1 r$ c3 I" Y, C( \) c5 aTo thee from tortured souls arise.
9 Y# D& O+ n0 g" s7 ]! EWe sing, but oh the clay is vile
Beneath our feet, and long the mile;
But let the world dream otherwise,
       We wear the mask!