i refuse to believe
this is the real you.
might this mean i'm refusing reality?
maybe.
might i rather refuse reality than refuse you?
harumph. no.
so long, you. i'll take my reality
crushed and for-now sullen
as it may now be.

i refuse to believe
this is the real you.
i can see you, vividly,
inside that cast,
vastly smaller than the man you are.
some sudden and swift
injury has befallen you and you've retreated.

even you refuse to believe
this is the real you.
you are foolish but not stupid
and can tell truth
and reality from falsehood and false hoods.
you are scared but not weak
and from this you will emerge (victory!)
emboldened to emblazon new trails.

shall we tread them together?
harumph. no.
i'll meet you along the way, i'm sure.
(we'll see
about an us
when there's really
a you.)