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...TO RIDGELY TORRENCE - PLAYWRIGHT by GEORGIA DOUGLAS JOHNSON ODE ON A DISTANT PROSPECT OF CLAPHAM ACADEMY by THOMAS HOOD A CHRISTMAS CAROL (2) by CHRISTINA GEORGINA ROSSETTI LILIES: 12. 'YET I ENDURE.' by GEORGE BARLOW (1847-1913) IDYLL 1. THE EPITAPH OF ADONIS by BION |