I Was Here
Location
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 7th 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.