Caroling Dusk/We Wear the Mask

by Paul Laurence Dunbar

For other versions of this work, see We Wear the Mask.

WE WEAR THE MASK^[1]

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 criesTo thee from tortured souls arise.We sing, but oh the clay is vileBeneath our feet, and long the mile;But let the world dream otherwise,      We wear the mask!

1. Copyright 1896 by Dodd, Mead & Company, Inc.