We Wear the Mask (Poem)

SeanJohn

BY PAUL LAURENCE DUNBAR
' z9 i4 s. I; j' ]We wear the mask that grins and lies,
It hides our cheeks and shades our eyes,—
6 R! H- f4 o- W, q% V6 WThis debt we pay to human guile;
, ^+ H* t$ g4 x) zWith torn and bleeding hearts we smile,
* n  `# f* S% c, eAnd mouth with myriad subtleties.

Why should the world be over-wise,
9 Z1 T# m0 f6 Y3 t; YIn counting all our tears and sighs?
1 M& q' X3 l( E3 E  b, tNay, let them only see us, while
       We wear the mask.

We smile, but, O great Christ, our cries
* E& Q& Q# X8 P) i% d. cTo thee from tortured souls arise.
We sing, but oh the clay is vile
Beneath our feet, and long the mile;
' r. T8 x% E7 ?* b# y' \/ J. d5 u( dBut let the world dream otherwise,
$ ~0 N5 V; O2 _7 d" m0 R* V% u: r       We wear the mask!