Ode To Friends

When I was brought into this world,
I held the finger of a woman,
I called her my friend
and the ones she called family.

I was introduced to a man
whom I held in reverence all my life.
He knew everyone in the world
and the people he knew were my friends.

A few years older, and I was sent to school
I met people my size, little, shy and afraid.
Most were busy with their toys
and some enjoyed my company.

When we grew tired of toys, when we were being educated,
the ways of the world were learnt staggeringly quick.
The clicks were important, and I was left out of most
a best friend stood by, amidst the nod and hi-s.

As a well bodied lad, sport domineered over company.
I played, the games my only friends.
I enjoyed the glory and rued the fall.
Sport was a true friend for seasons all.

I sought a friend, when the daze subsided;
different from the friends of past
the hormones blazed, it wasn’t platonic
a relationship, a form of friendship like never before.

Soon goals and ambitions were a vital part.
They took me places, they took me far.
I viewed them as fellows who led me.
They were friends nonetheless in my journey.

Life took me to foreign lands;
and not for the first time, had I been so alone.
I made my peace with it,
called loneliness my friend.

It’s a long way to go before the end.
I’m sure I’ll encounter many such friends.
They need not be human, or material or worth my network.
As long as they keep my company and be my friend.