i thought i knew you
recognized you
felt you
in some way
sometimes big
sometimes small
standing there
arms outstretched
mouth wide open
no sign of anything
that couldn't be classified as ordinary
but the curtain falls
and you make your way backstage
and the you i thought i knew
has died
flown away
been a lie
who are you in those moments
when you stand for words
you can barely speak
all cut throat
and dynamite
all flame and fight
fire in your once yielding eyes
i don't know you
maybe i never have
never will
never could
or can
you seem so foreign now
fueled from within
spewing out hate and judgment
overruling, overstepping, obscuring
all that i thought was once there
alive and well
breathing
calmly
rationally
evenly

could i have been so wrong
could i have misjudged you so
were there earlier signs
did i miss them
consciously
subconsciously
unconcsiously

which one of us has lied
more?