We Wear the Mask (Poem)

SeanJohn

BY PAUL LAURENCE DUNBAR
We wear the mask that grins and lies,
: s5 @! j! o2 h9 HIt hides our cheeks and shades our eyes,—
2 J2 s+ z$ D( YThis debt we pay to human guile;
% ]* f' ]! A' Q! {With torn and bleeding hearts we smile,
1 v2 e- V: [2 D: kAnd mouth with myriad subtleties.

Why should the world be over-wise,
" w& \  }  ^7 a0 F6 ]( L. w# iIn counting all our tears and sighs?
Nay, let them only see us, while
* r' F4 q# }6 w* B: \4 |# O       We wear the mask.
8 r$ f+ s. _5 a$ F1 b
We smile, but, O great Christ, our cries
To thee from tortured souls arise.
We sing, but oh the clay is vile
! O0 k/ b5 Y3 m6 tBeneath our feet, and long the mile;
0 z, R$ D; @+ g4 b1 M( z3 a$ x: [But let the world dream otherwise,
3 v$ ~* ^  V0 @5 y) g/ G2 V       We wear the mask!