Paul Laurence Dunbar's Poem, WE WEAR THE MASK

from Daily Terrors · host Peter S Fogg

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 Pasquale is the author of literary novel, Dear Sparrow; also The LOVE JUNKY series spanning over 3000 pages (unpublished).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 He is the author of well over a dozen unpublished novels and many poetry and short story collections.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 Pasquale also has the surviving copy of the unpublished autobiographical fictional Worcester novel, "BLACKHAWKS (The Children Sad)" by Pasquale's father's best friend, Larry J Sandners.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

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