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,—
8 f7 L- x0 _( `* t9 CThis debt we pay to human guile;
With torn and bleeding hearts we smile,
And mouth with myriad subtleties.

Why should the world be over-wise,
1 B4 ]0 j( g# M# V6 g, P6 SIn counting all our tears and sighs?
Nay, let them only see us, while
8 H: j5 [% r4 e( G9 C. A       We wear the mask.

We smile, but, O great Christ, our cries
4 u0 s- A. n5 p6 Z. R# eTo thee from tortured souls arise.
6 Y8 {! f& @, o! ~3 E" AWe sing, but oh the clay is vile
/ n! Z" V- d  O* h+ N# X; \Beneath our feet, and long the mile;
9 E8 Z; B4 `5 }1 LBut let the world dream otherwise,
       We wear the mask!