are you kidding me?

i never know when

you're joking,

she says,

pulling at her hair.

i can't figure it out,

i don't know

when you're kidding, being

funny or

serious,

sarcastic.

i can't read you. it's hard

being around

you with all

your cryptic sayings,

your metaphors

and verbiage slight of hand.

i feel wobbly and unsure

of what our

conversations

are all about, or even

if they are conversations,

or just exercises,

verbal jousting, practice

for when you want

to write things down.