We Wear the Mask

    We wear the mask that grins and lies，

    It hides our cheeks and shades our eyes，——

    This debt we pay to human guile¹；

    With torn and bleeding hearts we smile，

    And mouth with myriad² subtleties³.

    Why should the world be overwise，

    In counting all our tears and sighs？

    Nay⁴， 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 vile⁵

    Beneath our feet， and long the mile；

    But let the world dream otherwise，

    We wear the mask！