The poem, “We wear the Mask” by Paul Laurence Dunbar is my most favorite of the five poems provided. The poem provides me with intrinsic satisfaction when I read it.
For instance, the message the poet provides through the poem is touching as it demonstrates clearly the picture of how the black people in America lived in pretence by hiding their agony and problems that they faced. The mask is a figurative word which refers to their confinement.
Although the poem depicts a somber mood, I find it encouraging and motivating, as it provides a big challenge for those people who feel oppressed to rise up and defend their own rights. Pretence, the spirit the author postulates through the poem, provides encouragement and gives me the strength to carry on with my goals irrespective of the situations.
Therefore, this poem has provided a clear picture of how the black people were treated thereby helping me in understanding the benefit of providing every race with the freedom to engage in activities without making their lives difficult. It has further clarified on the issue behind goodwill, as every person needs a peace of mind, love and part of the larger society. Notwithstanding, I acknowledge the author of his background and creativity in his compilation of poems.
The poet is a well renowned author who has received acceptance from a multiplicity of poets and readers for producing good and quality chef-d’oeuvres. For Instance, his poem “We Wear the Mask” presents the situation in America during his time when he witnessed the way the blacks suffered in silent.
Therefore, I like his poem because of the content, the educational aspect it carries and more importantly, the way he addresses his poem relating it to the daily occurrences of the time. Having composed it at times when racial discrimination was at par, the author seems keen while portraying the situation as it then stood.
In addition, I favor this poem because of the way the author has adapted to simple language which is easily understandable. I am mean to believe that, the author was conscious about the audience in mind. The poem is written in a systematic and captivating way as author tries to bring out a clear picture of how the situation was which enhances understandability.
His choice of words fosters clarity, as various people of different education levels have testified how easy it appears upon reading and understanding the poem. As for me, the poet uses simple words which make the message clear. For instance, in this poem the first line, “We wear the mask that grins and lies,” is simple.
Any person sees how the “black Americans” lived a life of pretence as they could not rise up and defend their rights or comment on any issue that pertained to them. They lived in cocoons, denoted as ‘mask’ by pretending in order to void any instances of seclusion or harassment (Connelly and Trimmer 30). This simplicity and use of easy understandable languages explains the reason behind my favor of the poem.
The poem further provides motivation for me to continue fighting on with life. Life has a lot of problems and it comes with agony, discouragements and all sorts of enemies. Reading it has always been my pleasure and my source of relief.
It motivates me like the blacks although they faced hard times in coping with their lives. However, they had no otherwise but to behave in the way they did to survive, which they did by putting on masks. Therefore, the poem’s message to me concerning my entire life as an individual makes me prefer it to the other poems.
It therefore passes for favorite as the author compiled it in a creative manner and attaching the evident relevant message that reveals the anger and agony our black colleagues went through. It therefore seeks to encourage people to love their colleagues regardless of their races or any differences that they have in regard to their affiliations, color, and gender among others.
Works Cited
Connelly, Mark, and Trimmer, Joseph. Reading For English 2. Thomson and
Heinle, Boston: Massachusetts, 1998.