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We Wear the Mask by Paul Laurence Dunbar (1872-1906)

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!

This is another one of my favorite poems! Enjoy!

Comments

  1. AnonymousMarch 2, 2012 at 10:34 AM

    I really like this poem. This one is perfect for my sister's tea party. She will have a number of poems for the ladies each or for each table. I have some books on Paul Lawrence Dunbar. We studied his poems and thoughts in grade school. Learning poems is very inspirational. Children and grown-ups should read more poetry and they would not be so angry all the time. Poems are soothing to the soul.

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