132. Ian Poem by Jaden Knight

You’ve been there for me such a long time
I count you as a near constant companion
sometimes a friend sometimes a foe
but even so you’ve often been there when I needed
and how many friends manage that in a lifetime

You’re nearly always there with something to say
an opinion on something or someone we’ve seen
often enough it's a caution or warning about them
and even though I may not like the words you speak
I'll listen carefully and try to take heed
because you’re honest to the point of rudeness all the time
and at least you’ll admit it when you’re wrong

I can remember the first words you said to me
must have only been 12 or 13 at the time
“Stop now you fool, you going to be killed”
you scared the blaze out of me when you first spoke
even more than when the truck thundered past
missing me by mere inches

After a few times of saving me
you introduced yourself properly
becoming like a guardian angel overnight
always wanting me to learn from your mistakes
never explaining to me how you died
always needing me to avoid similar fates

How many times have you tried to pick me up
attempted to lift my spirits when I’m down
stopping me when i get too angry or depressed
always trying to convert it into something I can use
even now I am still not sure why you do it
when you know I can never do the same for you

Every time I’d ask you why you choose me to watch over
you’d always repeat the same thing
“We let you fall so you can get up again
help you learn so don't mess up too much
never want to see you slip up badly break bones or sink
want you to live your life free
we need you to exist to make everyone think”

All I can say in response is this
for the times you saved my life
from cars trees and dangerous people out there
for all the warnings and comments you made
both when you were correct or wrong
I really appreciate all that you’ve done for me
and look forward when the time comes
to shaking you warmly by the hand
and thanking you in person