Friend.

Sshh.

The air fills swiftly with a

roaring silence,

but exclude our hearts

as they beat in time like

low bass drums,

for the conductor has begun

to bring them to a crescendo

and the pounding is so great

it hurts my chest.

The air grows still,

frozen in ice like the

ponds outside,

but exclude our legs

as we sway back and forth,

standing here as if

we stand on the top of a fence,

afraid of falling

to either side.

The air lowers suddenly

to a chilling, shiver-inducing

degree,

but exclude our hands

as you, my friend,

take my hand with your hand,

and it’s sweaty,

the sweatiest hand

I’ve ever held

with moisture clinging to

the spaces between each finger,

but it’s the only hand to hold,

and it’s alright

because mine’s sweaty, too.

We are

clashing chords

in that song you love,

the scratches on your  

camera lens,

so exclude us from this world,

this silence, stillness, chill.

We are like candy-lovers

in your dentist office,

yet we stick to each other like

Swedish Fish to braces.

Because I am the person

that will hold you, my friend,

up to see the sun rise

above the tallest mountains.

I will steal away your tears

and lock them instead within me,

for you do not deserve misery

or sorrow or woe

and in their place I will

give you my joy.

And when you fall,

and I stand tall,

I will raise you from the ground.

When you push me down,

I will drag you down with me

because,

heck,

that’s only fair.

I will admire

your pros

and witness your cons

but I will love you

all the same.

And when I see the door

to paradise,

I will hold it open for you

and let you walk through

first.

Because you will always be

my best friend.