Friend

I know you saw my empathy
my friend, but I was scared
of being seen and even worse,
of being understood.

And why so scared? It leaves me now,
like autumn one day blooming
proud, the next day fallen bare
beneath the frozen air.

I know you saw my face my friend,
the understanding there.
And how much joy it brought my heart,
these pains at last to share.

If I could show my Self to you
my friend, I’m sure you’d see
another wounded worrier
just longing to be free.

I cannot be your friend my friend,
can’t even be my own.
But if I could, I surely would
feel so much less alone.