Breakup Would Be Too Strong A Word

two poems about friendship

1.

Breakup would be too strong a word.

Maybe a

Slipping away or a

Walking in opposite directions.

We used to take late afternoon walks,

The sun slipping

Down the curve of the atmosphere.

We spoke about our dreams,

The ones that hurt to hope for

And laughed about our long shadows,

Silently asking God for a companion that tall.

But now you’ve become one of the

People I meet only in the pews.

The ones who

We break bread with,

Sit under the sound of the Gospel with,

Lift up a song in praise with.

I see you slip out of church.

We didn’t even say hello.



2.

I walked the two blocks to your house today.

I slipped in quietly

Because your baby sleeps light.

I remember you telling me

You were going to be the one coming over

To my house to hold my babies.

But look at you breaking the rules,

Getting married and

Becoming a mama.

The two things you wished for

But never said out loud.

Now on Sundays, you sit in the nursery

And I sit in the pews.

We praise God,

Break the bread,

And sit under the sound of the Gospel.

You bring that sleeping miracle out in your arms

After the amen and hand her to me.

Hello, my friend.

---

This poem was prompted by Maria Giesbrecht at The Guelph Poet. She is sharing daily prompts for National Poetry Writing Month. This prompt hits deep.

Thank you for reading. Always,

Tristan

P. S. This poem is a real mash up of friendships: new, old, renewed, hoped for, imagined.