We Wear the Mask (Poem)

SeanJohn

BY PAUL LAURENCE DUNBAR
/ s9 c- `" t6 U7 b* S* ^7 HWe wear the mask that grins and lies,
- g8 P3 u8 ]8 u, c- {& mIt hides our cheeks and shades our eyes,—
This debt we pay to human guile;
, x8 s4 `; M* DWith torn and bleeding hearts we smile,
9 N4 G4 e  I6 W/ z) t3 JAnd mouth with myriad subtleties.
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Why should the world be over-wise,
. [6 D! @* y' [- @9 n7 h5 SIn counting all our tears and sighs?
2 C; q# s" c3 E3 DNay, let them only see us, while
' b0 X9 H; U: |$ q7 u: E       We wear the mask.
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8 x5 F- i/ m& `9 b  U- s' S7 Q% GWe smile, but, O great Christ, our cries
To thee from tortured souls arise.
- N" v: {. y# ]4 sWe sing, but oh the clay is vile
0 U& z# q2 i6 a' g% J. g& MBeneath our feet, and long the mile;
0 x( S; R7 f8 [But let the world dream otherwise,
6 n+ z5 h* f4 u3 T       We wear the mask!