TO COMFORT AN OLD FRIEND

I am here today to comfort an old friend
we go way back -once, we took on the
world, anything was possible, we were best pals
like brothers, willing to do anything for
each other, over years and miles, no matter
what making it through we were invincible, so
we thought, and today I am  sitting by his side
holding his hand, to bring him comfort, ease
his pain for a time, to bring back our youth, that
everlasting prize in our folly we had, if just for
a moment, I will take him there, with each story
I will regale him, recalling memories, to recapture-our
eternal youth, once more,  drawn from a time capsule
I was turning back the years, just for him, I watch his eyes light up
he remembers the details, after a while , he squeezes my hand back
acknowledging it all, then his eyes tell me, enough for one day
he's tired, ready to close  his eyes, I look at him, beginning to
doze, so I lean in to his ear and whisper I'll be back, as I turn to go
his head against the pillow, I am comforted by the fact that
our friendship has survived everything, and so it will, even this

by Michael Perry