Paul Laurence Dunbar's Poem, WE WEAR THE MASK

Paul Laurence Dunbar's Poem, WE WEAR THE MASK"We Wear the Mask," published in 1895 by Paul Laurence Dunbar, is a foundational work of African American literature. It explores the psychological toll of racism and the necessity of hiding one's true emotions to survive in a hostile society.The poem is a Rondeau—a complex French poetic form that relies on repetition to create a sense of entrapment and persistence.           This special reading by fellow poet Joe A Pasquale.   We Wear the MaskBy Paul Laurence DunbarWe 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!================================================================================Joseph A Pasquale is an American author who writes in a variety of literary genres, including poetry, memoir, and literary fiction. ​Pasquale is the author of literary novel, Dear Sparrow; also The LOVE JUNKY series spanning over 3000 pages (unpublished). Over 8 novels in the series including LOVE JUNKY LA.​ His "Upon Them A Childhood Cast," novel was completed in 2024, 800 pages. Pasquale's poetry collection, "Kindred Spirits: Horse Racing Name Poems" was added to the national archive in the National Horse Racing Hall of Fame in Saratoga Springs, New York. ​He is also the creator of Horse Racing Name Art Poems and authors their entire creation including conceptualizations. ​He is the author of well over a dozen unpublished novels and many poetry and short story collections. ​ Pasquale was born and raised in Worcester, Massachusetts and studied the art of writing literary fiction under bestselling-author, Ken Eulo. Ken Eulo's BLOODSTONE was his first purchase in 1982.  Pasquale is an active member of the Worcester County Poetry Association. ​Pasquale is related to Andrea Tempesta (his aunt) who penned the Worcester novel, "Afloat a Stranger's Shore." He has the only surviving print and digital copy of the novel. ​Pasquale also has the surviving copy of the unpublished autobiographical fictional Worcester novel, "BLACKHAWKS (The Children Sad)" by Pasquale's father's best friend, Larry J Sandners. ​Pasquale is also known as The Horse Racing Poet and has another website: www.horseracingpoet.com/blog www.josephapasquale.com