We Wear the Mask (Poem)

SeanJohn

BY PAUL LAURENCE DUNBAR
- Q- i# ~4 o9 i1 i, rWe wear the mask that grins and lies,
It hides our cheeks and shades our eyes,—
This debt we pay to human guile;
With torn and bleeding hearts we smile,
; H0 d# T. [6 q9 ], LAnd mouth with myriad subtleties.
6 A! [# [3 _0 b) B! ~& ]3 j
Why should the world be over-wise,
6 b& C; N- a4 @6 t- s/ [In counting all our tears and sighs?
" W$ ]. x: J- l  |/ O+ jNay, let them only see us, while
1 D' O# Y: R, `/ L8 h& I9 H8 n# D       We wear the mask.
' `9 e% q# |4 Q5 M- r
# Q2 X' ]" S, X5 N1 Q+ ~We smile, but, O great Christ, our cries
To thee from tortured souls arise.
3 ]! Q0 Y9 {5 X2 fWe sing, but oh the clay is vile
" J# z6 J& j+ ]) |" l8 OBeneath our feet, and long the mile;
But let the world dream otherwise,
2 B# x$ @5 ^/ x, C" `       We wear the mask!