We Wear the Mask (Poem)

SeanJohn

BY PAUL LAURENCE DUNBAR
& m7 ]1 }9 l+ `2 HWe wear the mask that grins and lies,
3 b+ s% c' x, X' Z7 `9 rIt hides our cheeks and shades our eyes,—
This debt we pay to human guile;
8 \1 z" t3 e! _5 [; cWith torn and bleeding hearts we smile,
And mouth with myriad subtleties.
3 ^; d) [0 ^. |* ?8 R) I
Why should the world be over-wise,
In counting all our tears and sighs?
4 o/ N6 W6 U+ w- f0 x1 @Nay, let them only see us, while
       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
Beneath our feet, and long the mile;
But let the world dream otherwise,
       We wear the mask!