September 15th, 2025
by Yasmin A.
I don't like who I am when I'm with you
I laugh on cue, I play along,
but deep inside, it all feels wrong.
It's not pretend I choose each day
But a mask that slips on anyway.
It's like I'm trained to dim my light
To change myself to just feel right.
I mold myself to fit your way,
then hate the role I have to play.
If friendship means I must conform,
then love, for me, has lost its form.
A true friendship means honesty
Not shrinking down so you'll like me.
It's not your fault, you never knew–
I smiled so well, I fooled me too.
But I'm tired of pretending every day
of filtering out the words that I say,
of holding in the things I feel,
of acting like it isn't real.
I wish you'd seen behind the grin,
the cracks I kept beneath my skin.
I wish you'd asked if I was true–
not just if I agreed with you.
So if I start to pull away,
please know it's not with hate or blame.
I just need to feel like I'm free
to finally, softly, just be me.
About the Poet
Yasmin A. resides in Thornlie, Western Australia, Australia.
Read the poet's biography and Wax Poetry and Art publications
on Yasmin A.'s Artist Page.
This poem is also featured in Comet #6,
published in the Wax Poetry and Art Library.
Previously published in Australia Poetry Magazine:
Yet
by Stephen G. Lloyd
Australia Poetry Magazine is part of the Wax Poetry and Art Network.
- Visit the main Wax Poetry and Art Submissions Page to see all opportunities.
- Visit the Wax Poetry and Art Library.
- This website and all contents ©Kirk Ramdath and specified artists.
(Advertisements)