We Wear the Mask (Poem)

SeanJohn

BY PAUL LAURENCE DUNBAR
We wear the mask that grins and lies,
1 E3 f, ]! e/ A  A/ |6 CIt hides our cheeks and shades our eyes,—
This debt we pay to human guile;
2 U# ]  \- d  ?5 YWith torn and bleeding hearts we smile,
- a2 o( a/ x, }# ?2 @And mouth with myriad subtleties.

; N( e. c% f" ^  y& OWhy should the world be over-wise,
In counting all our tears and sighs?
Nay, let them only see us, while
       We wear the mask.

* m# i$ m" e# h2 o% TWe smile, but, O great Christ, our cries
+ y& o. S2 \9 N+ GTo thee from tortured souls arise.
We sing, but oh the clay is vile
' z: O/ T& ^1 [0 OBeneath our feet, and long the mile;
But let the world dream otherwise,
! e2 @  ?4 F0 R& i8 {0 x       We wear the mask!