I tell my friend

some people,

you just can’t help

they’re projecting on you

all the things they can and can’t see in themselves

that you’re like them

or different

or approximately equal to

or greater than

or less than

who

what

they are

I tell him

you can change your perspective

but you can’t change theirs

your “I” can become “we” or “she” or “he”

but you can’t help what they need

read

your words are theirs

and you are their creation