We Wear the Mask (Poem)

SeanJohn

BY PAUL LAURENCE DUNBAR
) P8 S, K0 K% z4 Z4 E: YWe wear the mask that grins and lies,
1 a5 r) ]; I) M! F  n: kIt hides our cheeks and shades our eyes,—
This debt we pay to human guile;
With torn and bleeding hearts we smile,
And mouth with myriad subtleties.

# L2 S9 I+ Y# p  z3 ?/ I5 jWhy should the world be over-wise,
In counting all our tears and sighs?
, ?6 e8 V$ V& VNay, let them only see us, while
/ H: T; G$ I" Q8 I: d9 C       We wear the mask.
, E+ ?: N8 e! s) t, C: [
We smile, but, O great Christ, our cries
1 S$ ^0 O+ l) x$ W, W3 {To thee from tortured souls arise.
* G8 i1 D  b7 r. wWe sing, but oh the clay is vile
/ Q8 c9 P  o- ]6 C5 QBeneath our feet, and long the mile;
2 H- A. H6 c7 q8 tBut let the world dream otherwise,
       We wear the mask!