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,—
% q2 J9 b( Z, h7 y8 _3 }This debt we pay to human guile;
With torn and bleeding hearts we smile,
1 Y! U! O( c6 f) L& G4 m) [And mouth with myriad subtleties.
1 ]1 e2 d. K4 E6 p" T
5 q" a# v3 q: Q( t' B* dWhy should the world be over-wise,
# u$ E- q1 n1 dIn counting all our tears and sighs?
Nay, let them only see us, while
       We wear the mask.

, w7 V6 C6 p3 R' z% j9 BWe smile, but, O great Christ, our cries
To thee from tortured souls arise.
We sing, but oh the clay is vile
* E# z& E* T" q8 C! i# q. ]; HBeneath our feet, and long the mile;
  G- I0 U1 [& _3 g. m/ `But let the world dream otherwise,
       We wear the mask!