Skip to main content Skip to search Skip to header Skip to footer

Poems

[Written for the Journal]

THE MASK

From the December 1916 issue of The Christian Science Journal


The mask was played, the players gone:
Yussuf Ben Orem lingered on
And pondered o'er each mimic scene.
Each player and his mirrored mien.
Here strode a hero, there a knave,
A student gay, a pedant grave:,
In bright array or graver guise,
A mask o'ermastering the eyes.

A mask that hath in him no part.
Who dons it but as bid by art,
And doffs it knowing it but naught
And touching not his inner thought.
So far so true, all men agree.
And yet refuse, alas, to see
That all our sorrow, sin, and strife
Are only masks belying life.

Dost think all true that meets thine eyes?
Awake, thou dreamer, and be wise.
Armor makes not the warrior brave,
Nor garb the priest or prophet grave.
No more 'tis flesh which makes the man:
With wiser eye thy brother scan.
And thou shalt see the true man stand
As perfect as the Father planned.

Sign up for unlimited access

You've accessed 1 piece of free Journal content

Subscribe

Subscription aid available

 Try free

No card required

More In This Issue / December 1916

concord-web-promo-graphic

Explore Concord—see where it takes you.

Search the Bible and Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures