Thursday, August 31st

First we will go on a Scavenger Hunt with your table group. I will get you a list of items to find and take pictures of. You will post your pictures here.

We Wear the Mask

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 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!

I will give you a piece of black contact paper, and you will create your self-portrait with it.  We will read and discuss these poems.  Then you will brainstorm some ideas for your own.  You will write your own poem and put it next to your self-portrait.