muse
You're a friend, a true friend; someone I trust implicitly. If ages and circumstances were
otherwise, we could be lovers, and we've come to not needing to pretend that isn't the case,
with happiness and not too much regret. Safe and comfortable, yes, but still challenging;
we're neither of us easy people, and we haven't and don't always make things easy for each
other, let alone ourselves. Even apart from all this, you're one of the best people I know,
dedicated to your family and your friends, dedicated to your ever more challenging work,
making hard to impossible choices with courage and dedication and generosity of spirit. Yes
I see your brokenness, as you see mine, that's our humanity. How could you not be my
muse?
Distant in distance
but illuminated
a channel of light
of warmth
an abiding comfort
but not of need
nor of dependence.
(An old companion is dying here
breathing hard
limbs giving way
breathing rough
now in sleep
tonight? Tomorrow?
soon…)
I'll share this too with you
soon…
after it's over
you'll understand
(you've been there here too)
knowing that makes a hard time
easier to bear.
Thank you,
friend.
6th May 2016, SG18 - prompt: muse, with a prose preamble