... Of Surviving the Wilderness
As I lay in mellowness
Soothed by the falling rain
I pondered all the changes
That I had seen, once again
Togetherness divided by loneliness
Anger dispersing to quietness
Love darkened by blindness
Sadness climbing to happiness
Though we reverse them all
They would not cease to be
For life is always changing
And so, my friend, are we
The wind caught my reflections
And turned the rain to snow
Can we be any different
This, I yearned to know
Do you prefer, snowflakes or raindrops
They have no choice, none at all
They begin alike, high above
Droplets of water, waiting to fall
Snowflakes: crystalline perfection
Drifting wherever in gentle air
Whipping blizzards of confusion
Landing together in purity so rare
Raindrops: nature's pure libation
Falling steadily in line so true
Lashing flurries of destruction
Landing together to start life anew
Without the frosty snowflake
Christmas would not be the same
You would not see a rainbow
Without the falling rain
Are you a snowflake or raindrop
It matters not you see
For you count me as a friend
And that brings joy to me
Far too often, it seems, we go through troubled times.
What gets us through is the support from our family and friends.
Unfortunately separation or divorce often divides friends as well.
Personalities change, sides are chosen, anger and/or hopelessness are prevalent. Couples not wanting to chose sides visit neither of them.
When good friends of mine went through a separation the husband stayed with me for a while.
The wife was concerned that it would end her (and the kids) friendship with me.
I wrote this poem, and gave it to both of them , letting them know whatever changes lie ahead our friendship would prevail.
They later reconciled and spent many more years together - and the kids still call me ‘uncle’.