I Call Him Friend

I have a friend with no bound’ries, no corners, Preferring to just sleep around, If he should vanish, I know where I’ll find him, For sure, a new girlfiend he’s found. As a lover, I know, he is quite ardent, The passion he shows you seems real, But then there’s a change, he’s like weather’s brother, You’ve suddenly lost your appeal. In spite of this weakness, he remains loyal , To ex-wives, ex- girlfriends, it’s true, Though now just a friend, if you get in trouble, There’s nothing that he wouldn’t do. I have had girlfriends at whom he’s made passes, These days I accept it with mirth, For we have been buds now for so many years, His weakness? I witnessed its birth. In East African Peace Corps we were best friends, We too both had girlfriends at home, Faithfully writing girls we hoped to marry , Neither had thoughts we’d ever roam. It was bad news when a letter from home said, His love joined a sorority, All bets were off then, her letters less frequent, He was no more, her priority. I watched as he entered a downward spiral, Working on roads to help bushmen, My weekly letters a painful reminder, He might not see, his love again. I think that she tried to let him down easy, But he felt her slipping away, A better choice perhaps, to make him angry, Less of a loss, she didn’t stay. This marked the beginning, behavior now different, Love cheapened somehow going to bars, With many others contracted diseases, Romance‘s lost home - under stars. I think to this day he carries this wound and Takes blame for a roll of the dice, One life changing event, so filled with portent, Surrender to love was its price. Brian Johnston August 3, 2014