We Wear the Mask (Poem)

SeanJohn

BY PAUL LAURENCE DUNBAR
3 G8 ^' m! |  X) KWe wear the mask that grins and lies,
. ~3 m6 p* K( P2 \" OIt hides our cheeks and shades our eyes,—
, y0 [3 v' y' [& i6 m& X6 LThis debt we pay to human guile;
: S! d5 X, J3 Q/ E5 @, vWith torn and bleeding hearts we smile,
" J% |, Z6 t3 X. P4 |0 _) y) {- W: DAnd mouth with myriad subtleties.

Why should the world be over-wise,
$ \8 s; q- d" V, Z8 a5 PIn counting all our tears and sighs?
: r& Y9 U  q  O( s9 @  FNay, let them only see us, while
0 ^) t( H/ r$ E; |5 P- U: M       We wear the mask.
2 M! x" O+ a6 F# U$ \  v( c% y. @
We smile, but, O great Christ, our cries
, D$ j1 O& Y$ k* uTo thee from tortured souls arise.
! d, h( s. L4 {. U+ c; \/ IWe sing, but oh the clay is vile
" L2 n, I4 O7 @" q# x7 o# wBeneath our feet, and long the mile;
. s6 g" I# q& `4 z. ]# ^7 `' XBut let the world dream otherwise,
       We wear the mask!