Katrina Kaye

friendship stretches

then frays

closeness unraveling to memories
to the past

to nothing

 it doesn’t mean that love
isn’t woven into those recollections
and wrapped around the missed calls
the canceled dates

the passing ships

the regrets

 it doesn’t mean that seeing you
doesn’t fill me with a reminiscence
of the songs we sang

as children

your hug

warm and welcoming

as though it could support the years
that have passed us by

how long

has it been

did I tell you about

the morning I coughed up blood
how the pain in my chest finally revealed itself
as a tangible wound

 you never told me about

the nights you laid awake
gasping for air only to be find
it was your mind tightening its grip about throat

 these and other

earth quaking catastrophes

which casually surface in catch up conversations
years after

their initial tremble

friendship has the ability to transcend
we forgive each other

forgive ourselves

long enough to embrace a forever friend

inside the safety
of arms

and memories

and absolution

and love

and what was

and what is

there is comfort

I don’t remember every word or adventure
nor all these little glimmers of light

but I remember beauty and

peace

the sweet smell of lemongrass
laughter down the hall

maybe I am not that person anymore

neither are you

maybe we were lucky to find each other
at the right time

at the only time

when friendship was able to bloom

“Scrapbook” is previously published by Cajun Mutt Press (2024).