Ode To New Friends

Old Friends,
we heap praise
upon praise
upon them
in chit-chat and great works.
Alas, this is always less praise than they deserve.

Ode to New Friends

Bob Komives

Here, however,
find an ode to New Friends,
those who did not exist
until one day
a short while ago.
Fashioned full-form from thin-air
they appeared at a table among strangers;
they stopped to pick up a few coins we dropped;
they spoke to us after months of silent nods and smiles;
they showed up at elbow of long-time acquaintance,
or at our elbow when we needed a push;
they had to butt into our conversation
or critique our gardening,
or we imposed such discourtesy upon them;
or we met them as enemies
with whom we had to keep speaking
when our shouting was done.

New Friends fill voids that did not exist.
They pour vigor into mind and spirit,
sharpen our self-image,
open a new world or two,
or make an old world interesting.

New friends go away as mysteriously as they appeared.
Many become memories,
cherished and mourned.
Many fade to the mid-ground of good friendship
until day or place
when we see them forward  again,
recognized and embraced,
Old Friends.

Fort Collins © 2004 :: Ode to New Friends :: 0408