You Never Understand
A poignant poem about unrequited love and the pain of not being understood by the person you cherish most. Explore emotions of longing and rejection.
When my heart beats for you,
When my eyes get wet for you,
You were there
But you never understand
It's not that you don't know
But you always say it's NO
You know it all
But you never understand
Every word I write is for you
Every line sings for you
You read it all
But you never understand
It's not that you don't know
It's not that you don't feel
You know it all, you feel it all
But you never understand
I smile because of you
I weep just for you
What more can I say? I live just for you
But you never understand
Every time I asked, you said NO
Every time—NO, just NO
For everything, always NO
But I never understand
I'm awake all night, thinking of you
The ceiling knows, the silence knows
The 3 AM darkness knows it all
But you never understand
It's not that you have no one else
It is that I don't want anyone else
But you never understand
Now the only thing left is
NO, nothing but NO
Still I search for that one YES
But you never understand
Frequently Asked Questions
The poem explores the pain of unrequited love and emotional disconnect, where one person invests deeply in another despite constant rejection. It captures the struggle of expressing profound feelings that go unreciprocated, highlighting the gap between knowing something intellectually and truly understanding it emotionally.
The speaker cannot help but love and sacrifice for the other person, describing how they live, smile, and weep for them. This illustrates how deep emotional attachment transcends logic and reason, keeping the speaker devoted even in the face of constant refusal.
The relentless repetition of 'NO' symbolizes continuous rejection and refusal, emphasizing the emotional weight of constant denial. It represents the speaker's desperation and the mounting frustration of being denied even a single 'YES' in return for their devotion.
The speaker refers to the moon and stars as witnesses to their love, suggesting they turn to nature because the object of their affection won't listen. This imagery conveys isolation and desperation, as the speaker seeks understanding from the universe rather than from the person they love.
The ending suggests the speaker continues hoping for acceptance despite the overwhelming rejection they've experienced. It captures the bittersweet reality of unrequited love—the refusal to give up even when all evidence suggests hope is futile.