When in your eyes, I see fear,
I feel it right here, in my heart.
I see that you suspect me, that you scrutinize me,
I see that you judge me, I must be a brute,
I become the impression you have of me,
I become the one I’m not.
When in your eyes, I see fear,
I see it accompanied by intolerance.
My heart closes, you don’t trust me,
I’m calm, maybe violent just now.
You turn your back on me, you point your finger at me.
Why? Because we don’t know each other.
When contempt comes out of your mouth,
I arm myself, I hide, or I flee.
You seek me out, I’m afraid of being crushed,
So I stand up, I want to keep you away,
I become a threat, you advance,
From misunderstanding comes violence.
And if I had smiled at you, reached out my hand,
Perhaps we would have been friends tomorrow.
You would have given up your fear,
I would have opened my heart to you,
And we would have drawn another path.