Curiosity

A Poem

Photo by Alexander Krivitskiy: https://www.pexels.com/photo/woman-portrait-photography-1203549/

when midnight comes,
i wonder about you
as if you’re a fixture
in my thoughts.

i tease apart the nature
of the smile you gave me
as if it means something
instead of just kindness.

shadows under your eyes,
marks of sleepless nights,
and a gaze that looks too deep —
oh, i know you could be the death of me.

and daylight’s cruel
in revealing more shades
of the person you are
behind the mask.

i see you
whether you like it or not.

i see you
whether you realize it or not.

to me, it’s not about knowing
as much as it is about recognizing
who someone really is
beyond every layer.

i’ve played my parts,
and so have you —
but don’t you get tired
of all of it?