" PONDERING THE PARTICULARS OF FRIENDSHIP "

How often I have found no loyalty where I had hoped to find it
And how often I have discovered it where I least expected
It seems such a blessed thing when at first we find a friend
And it feels so devastating when we find our heart rejected
By the very one we called "Best friend"
Rare is the friend who faithfully stands by another through all his trials
And when we find this pearl within another, it all becomes worthwhile
When we look deeply into each other and we find a different color or opinion
It's as though the mirror is showing us, something to believe in
Often it's a reflection of ourselves that frightens us
And it's only a friend that can, turn our head to enlighten us
How wonderful and peaceful a feeling, when we begin to trust
Morphing selfishness into things we rush to our friend alone to discuss
And OH the conversations, that come ever so trippingly off the tongue
When a friend is there to challenge you, and bargaining has begun
The magic of ideas and plans being made for things yet to come
Stirs the powers of the soul, changing THEIR ideas into OUR passions
A mind boggling whirl of inspirations and contemplations
Exchanged between two friends, in never-ending negotiations
A happy fencing match with two separate points of view
Boiling down to simplicity, and the kindly acceptance
Of just saying, " I Love You!"

Tony Taylor.  (Chicago)