We wear the
mask
that [ [
g r i n
s ] ]
and [ [
l i e
s ]
],
It hides our
cheeks and shades our
eyes,—
This debt we pay
to human guile ;;
With torn
and bleeding
hearts
w
e
• •
•
►
s m i l
e
And
mouth with myriad
subtleties.
Why
should the world be over-wise,
In counting all our t e a r
s and s i g h s
?
Nay, let them only see
us, while
We
wear
the mask
"We Wear the Mask"
- Paul Laurence Dunbar
