_And let there be no purpose in friendship save the deepening of the spirit…_~from, _The Prophet_, by Kahlil Gibran
I
As a friend, I am
Your asylum from
A world gone ogre
from vile beasts
Who would assume
You prey
II
As a friend, I am
Your slayer of untruths
That haunt you
Wielding a double-edged
sword to protect you
From the lies that would
Consume your weary heart
III
As your friend,
I am your mirror
Sacred and exact
That you may
Understand yourself
Deeply to fully ponder
The waxing and to embrace
The waning of you with
An undaunted grace
If you were my friend
Your name would be silently
Exhaled from my lips
Like you were worthy,
Holy, and me…