u/afemalemuse

You act like you don’t know what I mean when I stare,
Like you’re just some tired man standing there.
But I tell you you’re beautiful and you laugh it away,
Like it’s something I wouldn’t say.

I say it again, softer this time,
And your black coffee pauses halfway to your lips,
Like even your doubt starts to slip.

You say, “Don’t start that,” like you need me to stop,
But your eyes don’t leave mine when I don’t.
Those crinkles by your eyes show up when you try,
Like your guard never quite learns how to lie.

And I step in closer like I already know,
Like I’ve seen the exact way you’re going to go.
And your voice goes quieter, like it forgets what to do,
When I say, “I really like looking at you.”

That’s when your hand finds my waist like it’s automatic,
Like you didn’t mean it but it still happened.

We kiss like we’ve been circling this too long,
Like every little look was already wrong.
Slow at first, like you’re still not sure you can,
Like you forgot you’re a man who can.

Then you give in; just a shift, just a change,
Like something in you finally stops trying to behave.
And I pull you in closer like I’ve always known,
This is where all your softness is shown.

And I smile into it like I knew from the start,
You’d stop trying to keep me apart.

When we break for a second, you don’t move away,
Just stay too close, and in a quieter way,
You say, “You shouldn’t look at me like that,”
But you don’t mean it, not after that.

And I tell you again, like it’s simple and true,
“You always look like this when I’m with you.”

You act like you don’t know what I mean when I stare,
Like you’re just some tired man standing there.
But I tell you you’re beautiful and you laugh it away,
Like it’s something I wouldn’t say.

I say it again, softer this time,
And your black coffee pauses halfway to your lips,
Like even your doubt starts to slip.

You say, “Don’t start that,” like you need me to stop,
But your eyes don’t leave mine when I don’t.
Those crinkles by your eyes show up when you try,
Like your guard never quite learns how to lie.

And I step in closer like I already know,
Like I’ve seen the exact way you’re going to go.
And your voice goes quieter, like it forgets what to do,
When I say, “I really like looking at you.”

That’s when your hand finds my waist like it’s automatic,
Like you didn’t mean it but it still happened.

We kiss like we’ve been circling this too long,
Like every little look was already wrong.
Slow at first, like you’re still not sure you can,
Like you forgot you’re a man who can.

Then you give in; just a shift, just a change,
Like something in you finally stops trying to behave.
And I pull you in closer like I’ve always known,
This is where all your softness is shown.

And I smile into it like I knew from the start,
You’d stop trying to keep me apart.

When we break for a second, you don’t move away,
Just stay too close, and in a quieter way,
You say, “You shouldn’t look at me like that,”
But you don’t mean it, not after that.

And I tell you again, like it’s simple and true,
“You always look like this when I’m with you.”

You act like you don’t know what I mean when I stare,
Like you’re just some tired man standing there.
But I tell you you’re beautiful and you laugh it away,
Like it’s something I wouldn’t say.

I say it again, softer this time,
And your black coffee pauses halfway to your lips,
Like even your doubt starts to slip.

You say, “Don’t start that,” like you need me to stop,
But your eyes don’t leave mine when I don’t.
Those crinkles by your eyes show up when you try,
Like your guard never quite learns how to lie.

And I step in closer like I already know,
Like I’ve seen the exact way you’re going to go.
And your voice goes quieter, like it forgets what to do,
When I say, “I really like looking at you.”

That’s when your hand finds my waist like it’s automatic,
Like you didn’t mean it but it still happened.

We kiss like we’ve been circling this too long,
Like every little look was already wrong.
Slow at first, like you’re still not sure you can,
Like you forgot you’re a man who can.

Then you give in; just a shift, just a change,
Like something in you finally stops trying to behave.
And I pull you in closer like I’ve always known,
This is where all your softness is shown.

And I smile into it like I knew from the start,
You’d stop trying to keep me apart.

When we break for a second, you don’t move away,
Just stay too close, and in a quieter way,
You say, “You shouldn’t look at me like that,”
But you don’t mean it, not after that.

And I tell you again, like it’s simple and true,
“You always look like this when I’m with you.”

Across the room, those eyes catch mine. Hazel and heavy, almost closed.

A smile appears, closed-lipped and slight, Dimples folding into the low amber light.
Crow’s feet tracing the edges they wear,
Like laughter once lived a long time there.

Warm light settles on freckles like dust,
On the bridge of the nose, cheekbones’ rust.
Like someone scattered the night on the skin,
And forgot where the edges begin.

Flannel shirt loose at the wrist and arm, Unbuttoned ease, unstudied charm.
Boots on the rail in worn blue jeans,
Like they belong in late-night scenes.

And no movement follows, no attempt is made,
Just seconds observed as they quietly fade.

Across the room, those eyes catch mine. Hazel and heavy, almost closed.

A smile appears, closed-lipped and slight, Dimples folding into the low amber light.
Crow’s feet tracing the edges they wear,
Like laughter once lived a long time there.

Warm light settles on freckles like dust,
On the bridge of the nose, cheekbones’ rust.
Like someone scattered the night on the skin,
And forgot where the edges begin.

Flannel shirt loose at the wrist and arm, Unbuttoned ease, unstudied charm.
Boots on the rail in worn blue jeans,
Like they belong in late-night scenes.

And no movement follows, no attempt is made,
Just seconds observed as they quietly fade.

Across the room, those eyes catch mine. Hazel and heavy, almost closed.

A smile appears, closed-lipped and slight, Dimples folding into the low amber light.
Crow’s feet tracing the edges they wear,
Like laughter once lived a long time there.

Warm light settles on freckles like dust,
On the bridge of the nose, cheekbones’ rust.
Like someone scattered the night on the skin,
And forgot where the edges begin.

Flannel shirt loose at the wrist and arm, Unbuttoned ease, unstudied charm.
Boots on the rail in worn blue jeans,
Like they belong in late-night scenes.

And no movement follows, no attempt is made,
Just seconds observed as they quietly fade.

You drink your coffee black, no sugar in the cup,
Before the sun can find the sky, you’re already up.
You laugh at how I watch you, say I’m staring again,
Then smirk before the laughter breaks and pulls me right in.

You’ve got crinkles by your eyes from all the years gone by,
Little maps of every hard-earned smile, every late-night drive.
You say, “I’m getting older, girl, you ought to run away,”
But your dimples give you up before you’ve finished what you say.

Your flannel hangs wide open and your sleeves are hanging loose,
The morning light finds freckles that the afternoon lets loose.
And every time you tease me about the age that’s in your bones,
I fall a little harder for the life you’ve always known.

You’ve got a tired soul, I see it in your face,
Like you’ve carried half the world and never slowed your pace.
But there’s a softness in you, hidden underneath the strain,
The way you hold your coffee cup, the way you say my name.

And I know
You’ll joke about the years between,
And I know
You’ll call me young and call me green,
But when you smile and those hazel eyes
Crinkle at the corners, I realise—
I’d listen to your stories all night long,
And let your old heart teach mine how to be strong.

He called himself a man of depth,
A diver in emotional seas,
But mostly he just liked the echo
Of his own philosophies.

He fell in love with almosts most
The glance, the text, the passing spark,
The silhouettes of women drawn
More beautifully in the dark.

Because a woman from afar
Can be whatever he desires,
A saint, a muse, a mystery,
A keeper of celestial fires.

But bring her closer, let her speak,
Let flaws and preferences appear,
And suddenly the magic fades
The image was more safe than near.

He loved the ache of wanting more,
The poetry of what might be,
But not the work of learning someone
Beyond his private fantasy.

He’d write her into metaphor,
Compare her eyes to stars above,
Then act surprised to find a heart
Requires more than talk of love.

For love, to him, was candlelight,
A melancholy, handsome pose,
A window streaked with midnight rain,
A notebook page of practiced prose.

And maybe that’s the deepest joke:
The thing he never understood
That love is often less profound
And far more difficult than good.

Not endless thoughts about the sea,
Nor searching every wound for art,
But making room for someone else
Inside a crowded human heart.

Hi everyone, thanks a million for all the great posts.

I’m interested in enlisting as an Army Recruit, with the aim to serve in the Infantry Corps.

If any women could share their experience, or any men their observations of women’s experience, please share!

Also if any women are open to dming about woman-specific considerations, I’d appreciate it.