Ph: Friend: I Call Him Friend Poem by Brian Johnston

I have a friend with no bound'ries, no corners,
Preferring to just sleep around,
If he should vanish, I know where I'll find him,
For sure, a new girlfriend he's found.

As a lover, I know, he is quite ardent,
The passion he shows you seems real,
But then there's a change, he's like weather's brother,
You've suddenly lost your appeal.

In spite of this weakness, he remains loyal,
To ex-wives, ex- girlfriends, it's true,
Though now just a friend, if you get in trouble,
There's nothing that he wouldn't do.

I have had girlfriends at whom he's made passes,
These days I accept it with mirth,
For we have been buds now for so many years,
His weakness? I witnessed its birth.

In East African Peace Corps we were best friends,
We too both had girlfriends at home,
Faithfully writing girls we hoped to marry,
Neither had thoughts we'd ever roam.
 
It was bad news when a letter from home said,
His love joined a sorority,
All bets were off then, her letters less frequent,
He was no more, her priority.

I watched as he entered a downward spiral,
Working on roads to help bushmen,
My weekly letters a painful reminder,
He might not see, his love again.

I think that she tried to let him down easy,
But he felt her slipping away,
A better choice perhaps, to make him angry,
Less of a loss, she didn't stay.

This marked the beginning, behavior now different,
Love cheapened somehow going to bars,
With many others contracted diseases,
Romance‘s lost home - under stars.

I think to this day he carries this wound and
Takes blame for a roll of the dice,
One life changing event, so filled with portent,
Surrender to love was its price.