We Wear the Mask (Poem)

SeanJohn

BY PAUL LAURENCE DUNBAR
We wear the mask that grins and lies,
& K; P0 R( L9 w! u2 vIt hides our cheeks and shades our eyes,—
7 L  d% ^: ^! P; eThis debt we pay to human guile;
With torn and bleeding hearts we smile,
' L) p$ Q  _& Y; D5 \And mouth with myriad subtleties.

0 Q3 k  X3 p' D; Z% SWhy should the world be over-wise,
9 O$ ~5 ~0 q( K( Z' _. K9 C5 KIn counting all our tears and sighs?
Nay, let them only see us, while
       We wear the mask.

( V( i$ R2 o9 [# N' ]We smile, but, O great Christ, our cries
/ n+ D; b2 B! uTo thee from tortured souls arise.
  ?# |" u- ^" N" f. n% u, jWe sing, but oh the clay is vile
Beneath our feet, and long the mile;
+ n' i+ J- L; a( {+ C0 GBut let the world dream otherwise,
9 ^# Z  Z% L; _9 u4 b/ p       We wear the mask!