We Wear the Mask (Poem)

SeanJohn

BY PAUL LAURENCE DUNBAR
4 y  X; S# @: q3 l% f( V: x; p" vWe wear the mask that grins and lies,
It hides our cheeks and shades our eyes,—
This debt we pay to human guile;
/ _1 Q8 n7 E: y( _' N4 ~' ?* ]0 wWith torn and bleeding hearts we smile,
And mouth with myriad subtleties.
$ f- L3 H1 W1 Q+ e! [+ E: j" I) U
" {6 R# G; t9 |. Y% C  PWhy should the world be over-wise,
In counting all our tears and sighs?
. h6 k3 @, m$ u5 ^- gNay, let them only see us, while
+ ~8 l5 N5 H& T, ]4 z: `$ y       We wear the mask.

We smile, but, O great Christ, our cries
To thee from tortured souls arise.
We sing, but oh the clay is vile
2 U$ k0 D, m7 |4 ?# R/ @4 r  sBeneath our feet, and long the mile;
But let the world dream otherwise,
       We wear the mask!