We Wear the Mask

(A Poem by Paul Laurence Dunbar)

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 overwise,
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!

(One of my favorite poems)

A Strange Thing

It is a strange
day when people
think they love
someone.
It is even more
strange to feel
loved in return by
another.
Love is a strange
thing, it turns
men into little
boys, women into
projects.
But this strange
thing drives the
whole world, even
our very souls.
Understand not this
strange and beautiful
emotion, but enjoy
this affection.

Love is a Strange
Thing.

Water Flows

Sounds of rushing,
drops are falling,
running on my skin.
Standing, thinking
wondering.
Who is she?
Do I know her?
Could it be _____?

Streams collecting free
Running off the edge
Heavy drops freed
What if?
Could this be?
Does she feel?
Dare I?

Rushing sound in ears
Flowing o'r my skin
Water soothing
as I question who,
and where, and when

Prone to Wander

They call me the loser, the poser, the punk
They don't understand the Grace I've been shown
An addict and drunk and a horrible man
I was shown light, in the midst of the Dark
Amazing Grace so says the song
Only to save those who are wrong
When the perfect man died on the tree
I was the one that held him there

Prone to wander Lord I feel it
Prone to leave the God I love
When I wander from the truth
When I flee from in your way
My God calls I can not speak
I return, on bended knee

Take my heart lord, take and seal it
Seal it for the realm above

When I see the dying race
I can not bear to stand and watch
Why do I not begin to pray?
I can not answer for my sins
Why do I when kneeling down
Ask my God for things of man?
When all the earth cries out for Grace
I am asking to win the race…

Prone to wander Lord I feel it
Prone to leave the God I love
When I wander from the truth
When I flee from in your way
My God calls I can not speak
I return, on bended knee

Feeling

I want to Feel Something.
Earth-Shattering.
Mind altering.
I want compassion.
I want redemption.

I want a Broken Heart.