Inquiry Into Friendship Poem by Mark Heathcote

The warm reciprocation of a smile
Is all it takes to bridge something worthwhile?  
So why then is it so many people frown?
As if they've now shared their eiderdown.

I do not know. Friendship is a handshake.
With oneself, an acceptance of a backache
One must carry like a turtle the world around
Refusal implies that this is a battleground.

That you, yourself, are entrenched in a war 
That has no allies. Your heart is a matador.
A red flag waving at an unruly, bloodthirsty bull 
Imagine your Chi's a carpet of lamb's wool.