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OwlSA
Member Rara Avis

since 2005-11-07

Posts 9347
Durban, South Africa

0 posted 2009-07-20 02:54 PM

A FRIEND FOR ALL SEASONS
7 November 1998

I want to be your rock,
your rock that doesn’t change,
your sun-baked rock,
your ergonomically-designed, sun-baked rock,
that cradles the contours of your back
and warms you from the outside
as you sit on the beach and lean against me and dream.

I want to be the yielding golden beach sand that you sit on
and I want you to press the backs of your legs into
this warm sand that is me, as you lean against me, your rock,
your rock that doesn’t change.

I want to be the breeze that cools your brow
and the waves that revive you
when the sun tries to melt you and fry you.

When you are drenched by rain
and frozen by wind
and abandoned on a stormy night,
I want to be your hot bath
that warms you from the outside
and relaxes each
muscle
one
by
one
and then
your mind
and then
every
single
emotion.

I want to be the sherry that warms your throat,
and spreads in waves to the tips of your
fingers
and the tips of your toes,
from the inside,
and eases the edges of your hurt.

I want to be the one you phone
at three o’clock
in the morning
especially when you know I am asleep,
when you dare not phone anyone else,
knowing that I will be glad and honoured
to be chosen
to listen to your pain
and soothe your spirit
and lift it from the depths,
high up over the telephone wires,
until perhaps inwardly you smile or even laugh,
- your rock,
your rock that doesn’t change.

I want to be the one
you phone to take you home from some sleazy bar
when you’ve had too much to drink
and are barely coherent and very rude to me
but know I wouldn’t want you to drive.
I wish I could shield you from all pain,
but I know I can’t, and
yes, a real friend may be sick in my car.

I want to be the music that pervades your soul,
and carries you above the clouds and over the sea
when nothing else can.
I want to be the poem that releases the tears
and, with a word, alleviates your mood, a little.

I want to be the Boomer
that licks your hand
when I don’t understand
why you are sad.

I want to be the distant star that guides you
to your dream,
your dream that chooses you unconditionally,
that loves you unconditionally,
that brings you happiness,
within, without,
around, over and under you,
in abundance,
and without hurt,
the happiness your vibrant soul deserves
no matter what anyone says or thinks.

I want to be sure of
a gilt-edged invitation
even though you know that
I will cry at your wedding
(I always cry at weddings)
and I want you to know Now,
because you won’t remember Then,
that, as you take your wedding vows
and always,
I really want your happiness
to be deep
and to last
beyond
Time.

I want to be one
on whom, when you are living your new happiness,
you can think back, now and then,
with friendly warmth
and know that
all was well
with our friendship
and though it comforted us both,
it was just a dream
and in the past
as it should be
and that when it really mattered
I was a friend for all seasons.

Owl

Midnitesun

Member Empyrean

since 2001-05-18

Posts 28647
Gaia

1 posted 2009-07-20 04:30 PM

"I want to be the music that pervades your soul,
and carries you above the clouds and over the sea
when nothing else can.
I want to be the poem that releases the tears
and, with a word, alleviates your mood, a little."

Diana, this entire poem is such a beautifully written testament to real friendship
It says a lot when you tell someone its ok to be rude when drunk, just call for a ride and don't drive drunk.
So many wonderful lines.

its a keeper

Margherita
Member Seraphic

since 2003-02-08

Posts 22236
Eternity

2 posted 2009-07-20 05:06 PM

quote:
I want to be the distant star that guides you
to your dream,
your dream that chooses you unconditionally,
that loves you unconditionally,
that brings you happiness,
within, without,
around, over and under you,
in abundance,
and without hurt,
the happiness your vibrant soul deserves
no matter what anyone says or thinks.

Such abundant warm energy of love in this, dear Diana!
What a precious priceless gift you unwrap here so beautifully: your heart, your very core.
A deep joy to read.
Love and hugs, dear Poetess.
Margherita

Alison

Member Rara Avis

since 2008-01-27

Posts 9318
Lumpy oatmeal makes me crazy!

3 posted 2009-07-20 05:29 PM

God, Diana, this is incredible! Amazing!

Alison

Heart2Heart
Senior Member

since 2009-05-15

Posts 738
Scotland/Norway

4 posted 2009-07-20 05:46 PM

Yes indeed, I must concur. A person who can write like this must be a rock of strength and should be appreciated very much for the goodness you bestow. Beautifully penned, a most impressive write which I found very befitting to end my evening's readings on Pips with.
All kind thoughts
Heart2Heart

brneyedgrly
Senior Member

since 2009-06-08

Posts 1125
nowhere and everywhere

5 posted 2009-07-20 08:25 PM

WOW lady...

you just wrote your heart out!

i'm your new fan!!

i'm keepin' this also

~shellie

Robert E. Jordan
Member Rara Avis

since 2008-01-25

Posts 8541
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

6 posted 2009-07-20 08:32 PM

Yo dear OwlSA,

You've expressed some nice thoughts in this poem.

Love Bobby

Billie Cullimore
Member

since 2009-03-27

Posts 315

7 posted 2009-07-20 11:46 PM

My Dear Little Lady:

Whom ever the recipient of this lovely wright is, they are very lucky indeed. You are a master. Thank you for shairing

Love 'un stuff

Billie C.

Earth Angel
Member Empyrean

since 2002-08-27

Posts 40215
Realms of Light

8 posted 2009-07-20 11:59 PM

You know I consider you a much-valued friend, Dear Diana, but perhaps some aspects of this poem might be a wee bit too close for our relationship!

You are a warm, passionate, sensitive (and sensual) ~ human being. And talented to boot!

~ and I'm proud to call you "friend".

Linda

Marchmadness
Member Rara Avis

since 2007-09-16

Posts 9271
So. El Monte, California

9 posted 2009-07-21 01:42 AM

I think you are a wonderful, sensitive lady, Diana and I truly envy your capacity for boundless, unconditional love but I have to be very honest and say that if a drunk barfed in my car it would sorely test our friendship.
Ida

2islander2
Member Ascendant

since 2008-03-12

Posts 6825
by the sea

10 posted 2009-07-21 12:05 PM

Hello Owl; you give a wonderful credit to love and friendship through your empathic words, I don't know the person you are talking about but he or she has a lot of chance...Your poem is hearttaking and cherish what matters for someone...

thanks for sharing

yann

angellea
Member

since 2009-03-29

Posts 144
NC, USA

11 posted 2009-07-21 12:54 PM

you have captured what a true friendship really is. this is spectacular. you really plucked my heart strings with this piece.

maranda

OwlSA
Member Rara Avis

since 2005-11-07

Posts 9347
Durban, South Africa

12 posted 2009-07-21 04:55 PM

Thanks everyone for reading all of this long poem and for your warm responses.

It was written a long time ago to a man (not the man in my poem, Evanescence) in 1998 who was playing with my emotions while he was in love with somebody else, whom he said he intended to marry, but didn’t – I think that was a figment of his imagination or just part of toying with my emotions.  I meant every word of the poem at the time, but when I realised what a fool I was, I no longer felt this way about him, although, in retrospect now, I don’t regret having felt the way I did – and at least I got the poem as a result of my foolishness!

Kacy, thank you for loving the poem so much and those beautiful and great things you said about me.

Thanks, Margherita.  I think, if I remember correctly (after all it is 11 years ago – it seems like so many more!), I think this poem was one of the things that put him off me for good!  So it is nice that at least others like it!

Alison, thank you for your sparkling response!  Smiles.

Heart2Heart I am glad the poem brought you so much enjoyment.  I try to be a rock of strength, but I don’t always succeed – or so it feels, anyway.

Shellie, giggles.  Yes, I sure wrote my heart out!

Wow, Bobby!  That says a lot, coming from you.  Thanks.  I am glad you enjoyed it.

Billie, I don’t think he thought he was that lucky, all those years ago.  I am laughing at the realisation that there have been very few boyfriends (even the ones who were supposedly in love with me) in my time that appreciated poems I wrote them.

Giggles, Linda!  I know you realised that it was about a man!  Smiles.

Ida, I would still drive somebody who had drunk more than the limit for driving (2 drinks in South Africa), but I don’t think I would drive anyone who was actually drunk – and I really doubt that I would be agreeable any more to anyone being sick in my car!   He was the only one to whom I ever offered that dubious privilege!  Smiles.  However, that ability of mine that you referred to, of loving so much and so unconditionally has brought me many tears in my life.  In my time I have confused being tolerant and forgiving with being treated like a doormat too many times as well.  I no longer allow anyone to do that any more.

Thanks, Yann for your understanding response.  All those 11 years ago, I was heartbroken that he had played with my emotions and angry at myself for being such a fool, but I soon realised that it was far better for me without him.

Thanks, Maranda.  My offer was for love as well as friendship (but, in my humble opinion, love should include friendship and all of those things in my poem anyway) but, in time, I was grateful that he had spurned my offer.

Owl

[This message has been edited by OwlSA (07-22-2009 03:36 PM).]

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