For Friendship

It’s been a long, strange road
A hundred conversations
That never happened
Words I’ve waited for
That are never spoken

But I’m glad you finally learned to spit

I’ll handle with bare hands
All the anger and sorrow
Oven-hot and frozen snow
Sweetness and poems
Kissed whiskey lips and paper cuts

I’ll stand very still
To listen for soft whispers
And the shuffling of other creatures beside me
Waiting in the dark
Trying to separate
Secrets from the truth

But I’m glad you finally learned to growl

It is a truth
That neither Truth nor Love
Care about us
We feel like children again
Wondering why the things that are so
Important
Never seem to notice
Our sweaty hands
And racing hearts
Runny nose, pounding thoughts…

We can spend all our breath
Twisting and pulling
Trying to make love be truth
And making truth fit our dreams
But Truth and Love and Dreams
Are simply free

And we are trapped between.

But you should know
I will be here still
When all is finally said
When all is done
And you are ready to meet the ravens

I will still hold your hand
Kiss your forehead
And gently fan the flames of your rebirth

I will sing
Oh so softly
All the words we could have said
All the words we should have said
You can finally sleep without regret

But as it was today
It shall be then

You shall leave
I will stay
I can hear a faint sound
A bark of sadness
A need for laughter

Someone needs me…
And I must heed the call.