I gaze into the mirror, seeking your approval,
But shadows of doubt cloud my reflection.
Every smile I muster feels like a trial,
In the court of your unyielding perception.

I wear my heart on my sleeve, yet it’s never enough,
My words falter under the weight of your expectations.
Each day I strive, but you remain aloof,
Leaving my soul in silent lamentations.

Your eyes, once warm, now distant and cold,
I yearn for the touch that reassured my being.
Yet, in this dance of love, I’m left out in the fold,
A mere shadow, forever unseen.

How can one measure up to an ideal so grand?
When every effort is met with quiet disdain.
I wander, lost, in this desolate land,
Forever chasing love, forever in vain.