When the friendship was new,
we marveled at our luck.
Clearly,
the universe had a plan.
Every conversation charged,
revelatory,
original.

We knew we would
pass the years together —
late night dinners would turn
into walks with children,
trips abroad.

Our youthful exuberance
confident in parallel lives ahead,
unaware of the power
of time
distance
loss
ennui.

I think of your smiling face often.
Life did not give us
the paired path —
houses next door,
dogs from the same litter.

I wonder how you are —
I think about the children you raised,
the marriage that ended,
your joys, losses, victories.

As I age,
I realize you remain
a great joy I carry.
Weren’t we lucky?
To have such magic
for a time?

I must remember to put
each glorious gift of friendship
in my pocket
to savor
in those moments I am alone,
when I really need a friend.