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,—
7 x% t- p( L, [This debt we pay to human guile;
With torn and bleeding hearts we smile,
And mouth with myriad subtleties.

Why should the world be over-wise,
In counting all our tears and sighs?
8 q/ w! p  e! r2 F$ T  g! e, `2 FNay, let them only see us, while
       We wear the mask.
9 {; b# ?$ {# i! E' B5 M
3 ^! I6 H2 U% GWe smile, but, O great Christ, our cries
. G5 O8 q( @' R* f0 C4 t  WTo thee from tortured souls arise.
' o) o  T) W9 K& s8 d) T: aWe sing, but oh the clay is vile
Beneath our feet, and long the mile;
; {5 X& F$ h+ G  x  N/ P4 ^! cBut let the world dream otherwise,
       We wear the mask!