I dissect people
not with a knife
but
with my eyes
with my ears
with the words that spill
from my tongue, probing
without trying,
judging responses

poking around their
insides, noting
this thought goes
here
and this
is connected to
that
ad nauseum
until I have memorized
every nook and
cranny

I learn people
much better than
they realize
I mostly
keep it to
myself,
afraid to
nick an artery
while I'm examining
and cause our friendship to
bleed out
from wounds
inflicted
by pointed-out flaws
and questions best
left
unanswered