“Blank Canvas”

In the playground where laughter spins bright,

I see friends running, a joyful sight.

But sometimes their smiles slip away,

When I walk up, and they turn, stray.

My skin is a canvas, painted deep,

But why do their eyes flicker, and then they leap?

I giggle and wave, my heart full of cheer,

Yet in their small glances, I sense a strange fear.

We’re all just kids, with dreams in our eyes,

Building tall castles beneath endless skies.

So why does my laughter bring whispers and stares,

As if my presence is heavy, a burden that wears?

I try to play tag, but the rules seem to change,

The way they step back feels so very strange.

“Do they see me differently?” I ponder and sigh,

In a world of colors, why can’t we just fly?

Sometimes I wish I could paint with their hues,

To blend in the sunlight, and dance in their shoes.

But here I stand, just a child wanting fun,

Wondering why fears seem to weigh a ton.

So I’ll keep on smiling, though confusion runs deep,

In a playground of innocence, where dreams shouldn’t sleep.

Maybe one day, when they look in my eyes,

They’ll see just a friend, beneath the disguise.