This day opens its two arms to reveal
a plump breast upon which to rest
or a gentle push in the direction
of my choice–cheer or gloom.
My choice. Which shall I take?
Well, the obvious is simple enough
so whyever, for God’s sake, do we
ever ever do the other?
Clearly the answer is only
because we are dumb.
She could be harsh sometimes cruel
like the character in the book we discussed
in book club, negative ugly judging.
But she had extraordinary qualities too
a capacity for loving and accepting
the quirks of those she loved that
far outstripped my own
the playfulness of a child
a consummate sense of humor
a genius for voices accents mimicry
incredible talent with words.
Slammed the phone down in
my ear more times than I can number
and yet I counted myself lucky
to say she was my friend.