Perhaps it's the stench
of this disingenuous display
of me on my best behavior
that's got you back-stepping
knowing like I do
neither one of us
is being all the way honest
though still we
tell no lies
it's in both our eyes
you know like I know
this ain't me...

What I be offering
is everything I'm capable of
and nothing that I do now
so it looks suspect
to the observant eye
but does that mean I can't?
or wouldn't if I wanted to?
yeah you right about one thing
the woman I turned into
when you came along
this ain't me...

She swallows insults
happily because they come
inside out with smiles
and promises of prayers said
misleading in the notion
that blessings could come
to follow when really
who you see in your dreams
that ain't me...

I am what I am
some of what you heard
all of what I ever said
and then some
mixed with
whatever I wake up
feeling like tomorrow
no matter what
always willing to
bare your burden
and swallow my own sorrow
to lighten your burden
but to be it
that ain't me...

You try so hard
to be polite
that I almost wanna fight
wanna scream and yell all night
just to see if
anything I ever say
can find a way
to reach the things you feel
and then I can
when it's safe
be all the way real
but until all of you
can I see
know that
this
ain't me...

This is the preview
to what could submit to you
but submits to nothing
but the Maker until
proof that it's reciprocated
is shown to be true
so think not of her
as my representative
cause all these angles you met
they were but pieces of what I be
and just keep in mind while
we do this
that all you see now
well
this ain't all of
me.