We Wear the Mask (Poem)

SeanJohn

BY PAUL LAURENCE DUNBAR
* i- J* E9 q+ ZWe 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.

Why should the world be over-wise,
& C& i- P6 \* ]: B$ eIn counting all our tears and sighs?
/ M# G/ }8 ?/ W, T5 vNay, let them only see us, while
$ x1 A% H  s/ w0 b/ e0 a7 e4 w       We wear the mask.

We smile, but, O great Christ, our cries
# N, T) M$ M7 [& s! @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!