Yesterday
I saw her after so long
her teeth in braces like a teenager
highlights in her hair

she has accrued ear piercings
with dangling silverware
growth rings? perhaps
one for each (y)ear
that passed her by

the unexplained anxiety that
had shadowed me for
a couple of days,
a build up of mental murkiness,
dissolves in the warmth of her smile

we hold hands - instinctively
and give each other a shoulder
to lean on for half a moment
(that was meant to be a hug)
two people in their thirties
behaving like excited teenagers

for,
friendship is
a true elixir
you are only as old
to your friends
as the day you first met

a long walk later
the world is put right again
I tell her
I am proud of her
and proud to be her friend

Today
after an evening
spent exchanging anecdotes
and antics of children
as she waved good bye
for a moment there is sadness
but I am happy
that she has filled a certain
friend shaped hole again
in my greying soul

I send a little thoughton
in her direction
'fare ye well
and keep your head held high
for there be heroes
who know not who they are'
(but I know one of them)

Peace