I would like to say
you inspire me
you bring out my best
you improve me
as I wish to be improved.

I wish I could say that
and could, I suppose,
if honesty weren’t my personal policy.
But the truth
is something else again.

You do not inspire me
except in certain ways.
You bring out my beast
and make me improvise
in ways I’d never have thought I would.

You
your presence
your existence
turn me into something new
that’s true
but I’m not proud of it
and cannot thank you
for what you make of me.