Paul Laurence Dunbar

we wear the mask

we 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,
in counting all our tears and sighs?
nay, let them only see us, while
we wear the mask.

we smile, but, o great christ, our cries
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!