Like I Said Poem by Justin Tallman

I

Here he is again
an old friend
whom I've been too afraid
to greet

He stands there at my door
and even after slamming it
in his face
he still rings the bell
with a smile

He is the one who taught me
everything
but I have too much pride
to admit this

'I did it all myself'
I shout
before I slam that door
again

But he rings it again
with his admirable stubbornness
which draws me to the door knob
like a magnet
and I open open the door
once again

He stands there
smiling like a gentleman
waiting for my invitation
to let him back in my world
which consists of bus tickets
and clock in sheets

II

You see,
he taught me everything
how to smile like he does
how to laugh like he does
how to woo a woman
like he does

But I have too much pride
to admit this

In fact
it's my pride
which caused me to forget
his lessons

'I did it all myself'
is what drove me to nothing
drove me to nights
which were absent of dreams
unable to see the stars

III

I stare into his eyes
sparkling with the secrets
to life

I almost utter the words
'Come on in,
let's have a few beers,
smoke a little
and catch up! '

But I merely
blink my eyes
slam the door
and forget

Like I said...

'I did it all myself'