We Wear the Mask (by Paul Laurence Dunbar)


Paul Laurence Dunbar
Paul Laurence Dunbar, 1872-1906
(Dayton, Ohio)

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 overwise,
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!



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Comments

  • 1/13/2009 9:28 AM chris wrote:
    This speaks to me today....
    Reply to this
    1. 1/13/2009 6:55 PM Jesus Crisis wrote:
      The poem reminds of a Billy Joel song I love:

      "Well we all have a face that we hide away forever
      And we take them out and show ourselves when everyone has gone
      Some are satin, some are steel, some are silk and some are leather
      They're the faces of the stranger but we love to try them on."

      Reply to this
  • 1/14/2009 2:21 AM chris wrote:
    It made me think of how, for various reasons, we have to hide our true faces from people sometimes.
    Whether it is to protect our selves or just because people don't really want to see the real person underneath. They sometimes prefer to deal with artifice than have to deal with the real thing... it's easier... to not know someone else's pain.. you aren't required to do anything.
    But in the process you miss the opportunity to make a deep connection... a trade off I not so willing to make anymore.. the older I get.
    Reply to this
    1. 1/14/2009 10:40 AM Jesus Crisis wrote:
      Well said!

      Reply to this
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