compliments for granted

How do you interpret
insincerely or for real,
some poor probably socially
awkward person, trying their best
to make a favorable impression on you,
probably
botching something
they’re not particularly good at?
Are they sincerely fawning and really
believe you’re good? Or just

fake-fawning for obsequious reasons? Some
charming, wily cunning-tongued sort, mauve
of motive and spectacularly unfathomable,
inscrutable as a fox carved in living rock
- symbol of the trickster! A silver-tongued
devil so to speak, their words like shining
velveteen going down your ears so easy - but

what do they MEAN?

Somebody you were pretty sure didn’t like you.

NOW what’s their game?

Do they think you're playing?
You get SO SICK
of taking compliments

this way.