Why must the people (the “we” mentioned) wear the mask? A
The people wear the mask to protect their faces and themselves.
B
The people wear the mask because they are told to by the larger society.
C
The people wear the mask to keep their identities a secret.
D
The people wear the mask to hide their suffering
Poem:
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!