Hold someone’s hand
Feel the comforting soul within it
Know you are not alone.
Life is a losing game.
We cannot dominate.
Hemmed in by death
Battling the inevitable
It helps
To have another living thing beside you
A reminder
That you’re not the only one
Holding fast
To this tenuous state.
My friend wants to see me.
I’m sad, she says. Someone has died.
I’m here for you, I say.
Of course I’m not there.
I’m 150 miles away.
You can come by, I say.
She drives all the way here.
I consider making her brownies
But I’m too tired even for box mix
Having had a headache all day.
She comes in
Brings me chocolate.
I give her hugs
I give her a clean bed
I give her little else.
I feel useless.
We don’t have much time to talk
She has to get up early.
I wish I could do more
Even when she feels like this
She has made all the effort
She has brought me gifts
She
has blessed
me
On her sad day.
Maybe it’s nice to spoil someone else
Maybe it helps.
At least that’s what I’m telling myself.
Sometimes I forget
How generous she is.
How I am often the selfish one
When she is around.
How exactly do you
make
a friend?
Out of the thin air
Out of the faceless crowds
You pick someone
Then come
Delicate first efforts
Some texts, some calls, some online discourse
Soon you can get a little closer
No sudden movements
Don’t scare them off
Feed them frequently
Small gifts
Eventually they trust you enough
To let you into their house
Hug them whenever you want
Get drunk together
Go for nothing drives
Drop by uninvited.
You don’t make a friend.
You tame one.
Sarah D. Silvey 