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! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE PRAIRIE-GRASS DIVIDING by WALT WHITMAN THE EVENING CLOUD by JOHN WILSON (1785-1854) EPIGAEA ASLEEP by WILLIAM WHITMAN BAILEY THE SLEEPING BEAUTY by MATHILDE BLIND MR. MERRY'S LAMENT FOR LONG TOM by JOHN GARDINER CALKINS BRAINARD ON A PRESSED FLOWER IN MY CPOY OF KEATS by WILLIAM STANLEY BRAITHWAITE ALIEN IN AMERICA by FRANCIS GARDNER CLOUGH |