masks

below is a poem i like. i know that it was originally written for a specific group of people (at least i think that's what i was told in class), but i think that it can be applied to anybody regardless of the numerous sub-groups society puts us into. to me it show's a common feature everybody shares, but nobody ever really talks about.

*note: the "We wear the mask" parts are suppose to be indented
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We Wear the Mask
by: Paul Laurence Dunbar

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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listening to : "Lucky" by Britney Spears
(yes, that is what i'm listening to, it's just the mood i'm in)