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 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!
by Paul Dunbar (1872 - 1906)
Slowly, as time meandered it’s way through, I was allowed many opportunities to get closer to people, and have a chance to understand them more. I think without realizing it though, I was also finding a way to get closer to the one man who I needed to understand the most, myself. I didn't like what was revealed to me. It confirmed to me why I have always felt alienated from people including myself.
by Juzno (2015 - 1877)
Model Vaan Huynh
Hasselblad 500 C/M
Sonnar 150 mm f4 lens
21 cm Extension Tube
Fujifilm Neopan 100
Photo © 2015 Rob Castro