to L.
10 years — witnesses
to each other’s lives,
10 years of understanding,
and still,
there is something to say —
and something to leave unspoken.
Anger between us
is allowed
so long as neither of us fears it.
For where rage finds open gates,
so too does love walk in.
And I offer you my closeness —
at first, shy,
then certain —
trust becoming a constant.
Freedom of speech — a luxury.
Calm in response —
a precious stone.
With you, I can cry,
laugh like an idiot,
talk arrogant nonsense,
be rude,
be a whiner,
joke, fight, lose,
win, fall silent,
mutter bitterly —
and all of it is mutual.
I know time moves on,
that paths and addresses
will change again and again.
I don’t care
what numbers or letters they hold.
I’m ready
not to see you for years —
but trust will not die.
At least —
I want to believe that.
Because thanks to you,
I’ve learned what closeness
with another human truly means —
and what it is
to cherish friendship.
Jul 22 2020