Every stanza of Craig Rozniecki's poem ends with the same line, "When I see your face," but the feeling that comes before it keeps changing. The poem opens with pure delight: bright eyes, an instant smile, a racing pulse, and a person who stands out in a crowded room. Then daydreams of romance creep in, followed by confusion and uncertainty about what the speaker should feel.
After that, the mood turns dark. The speaker describes having their heart ripped out and stomped on, which is a violent way of saying how much it hurts. Even a quiet, nearly empty room with only the two of them doesn't help; the speaker feels queasy and sad. By the end, tears come whether the person is near or far away.
The repeated line works like a trigger, and the same sight produces very different reactions. The poem suggests unrequited or painful love, where happiness and heartache are tangled together. The mood slides from excitement to sorrow.