I Was Here

I am a new friend, a first time meeting

I am excited and nervous and happy

Coming over to build a snowman

After weeks of being too shy

To go next door and ask.

I am a good friend, every day of summer

I play Nintendo and card games and spies

Climbing trees to catch bugs

Before I am finally too old

For neighborhood games.

I am a class friend, on weekdays until three

I act smart and weird and a bit bossy

Making games to fill our recess

After all our usual games

Were deemed too rough to play.

I am an isolated friend, every new school day

I carry a new notebook and sense of dread

Fading away to those hallways over

Before I will realize the hallways

Aren’t really what’s to blame.

I am a best friend, from 7^th period on

I share every interest and story ad nauseum

Passing notes to foreshadow disaster

After everything is over,

We can always see the signs.

I am a girlfriend, off and on and off

I am devoted and naïve and an idiot

Losing only those who aren’t patient

Before I figured it all out

Just how much I actually am worth.

I am a distanced friend, from now on I guess

I will see you next week or month or year

Moving away and making promises

After every experience that made me

And every year I was here.