We Wear the Mask (Poem)

SeanJohn

BY PAUL LAURENCE DUNBAR
& ~; ]/ c3 b' W8 r& `% IWe 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,
And mouth with myriad subtleties.
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* z0 c2 Q/ f7 J; Z) f7 d9 v- OWhy should the world be over-wise,
# c/ |2 `6 `5 r% KIn counting all our tears and sighs?
+ c) U5 c2 V  u2 u$ z8 tNay, let them only see us, while
       We wear the mask.
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We smile, but, O great Christ, our cries
To thee from tortured souls arise.
We sing, but oh the clay is vile
& @0 e/ M- j- y7 O  ~' WBeneath our feet, and long the mile;
, R7 j; i7 e/ z6 |5 ~0 Z# XBut let the world dream otherwise,
) c! J* b5 E# D1 n  `0 |& j       We wear the mask!