soft voice in the night commiserating, questioning
with some answers ready to take the issue home
to rest, relieving worries born of night's cracked stone.
A voice welcome in the mind, a pleasant remembering,
a face enthused with the knowing of you and rendering
your thoughts surely winners, opinions brave and sure.
Imbued with the light of empathy, remarkable the fewer.
Arms quick to wave, to hug, circle the questions born
of each day's passing, to brace with compassion torn
with tears, to forge an understanding close and dear.
Raise the beveled frame to expose the personal mirror
A presence hangs an old warm winter coat, easing
inhibitions, small anxieties, reservations, teasing
your personality to surface and float the wave crests,
expand to boldly declare and daring to invite guests.
Thus your friend populates your life in colors rich
with texture and deep in hue, live memory which
tells your tales and adds its own to the storyline,
passed your tests to offer love unbounded in time.
� 2000 David P. McClellan
