had a friend
good friend
for more than a decade
we talked of poetry
and how the love of a woman
cured the soul of many ills
though not all
as death still lurked
beyond even
the most passionate kiss
then I went Buddhist
told him of my discovery
and the peace of the man’s words
said I sounded
like one of those Sunday morning
Tele-evangelists
that all I needed
to be the same was
more grease in my hair
and a tie.
Told him I was on the path
now
but didn’t need others
to join
if they didn’t want to
he laughed
finally telling me
to stop the bullshit
that I was just
a failed Talmudic student
on a jaunt through Eastern fantasy.
Two years I listened
every so often
confessing my heart
until I ended his chatter
with distance
sad
that he never saw me.
Moving indictment on how our world view can rip our inner world apart. The last view lines beg the question 'but who was right? ' I think that to leave things hanging in the air can be a good thing. It sort of treats the reader as a jury member. Great work Charles.
Sometimes you do have to 'cut' these sort of people/friends/family out of your life. 10/10. Liz.
This poem has not been translated into any other language yet.
I would like to translate this poem
A touching poem, Charles. Thanks for sharing