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,—
This debt we pay to human guile;
6 p5 w# o$ i9 H, r1 E; mWith torn and bleeding hearts we smile,
( e2 a) d, l* OAnd mouth with myriad subtleties.

# e0 B4 L/ d9 a% S0 L& @. TWhy should the world be over-wise,
In counting all our tears and sighs?
Nay, let them only see us, while
4 |5 s/ n# |2 B" y1 a% p       We wear the mask.

We smile, but, O great Christ, our cries
- I! {- x3 L  G0 D* e1 A, P+ xTo thee from tortured souls arise.
) ]8 L* B. J, U- `; f: B: U, pWe sing, but oh the clay is vile
Beneath our feet, and long the mile;
But let the world dream otherwise,
       We wear the mask!