The Shirt

Scout and I 

I wish to find in my own heart

on each cold and blustery day

Selfless meanderings of love

for those who helped me on my way

 

They walked with me most of my life

watered my soul to grow loves seed

Bore my pains within their own breasts

through the times of my deepest need

 

Count yourself a fortunate prince

to be able to name just one

For whom your welfare is indeed

a concern that is never done

They are to me like my old shirt

that I wear with great dignity

reminding me of my own worth

and hope for all humanity

 

Author's Note

I consider myself fortunate to have had a few good friends. I can count on one hand their number. This poem is meant for one in particular. Without whom I would not have made it to write this. Thank you Robyn! She gave me a certain Banana Republic shirt that I treasure. So count yourself a fortunate princess Robyn. Be assured I am one for whom your welfare will never be done. Being so scarce great friends are considered precious. The miracle many wish for is not in a life we missed. It lies within the life we have. And so friends give us the feeling that we are loved as much or more than we love others. Those few memories unlike most are the only ones we recall in color not black and white. This because they are associated with the colorful shirt that painted the brush strokes of our lives together and times apart.

Reviews

[Deviant Works]

Oh, I love this. I am also someone who cherishes my friends. Grateful in so many ways, knowing how special and rare they really are. Every time that they are there for me and I for them, every time we laugh or cry and talk for hours. Friends are priceless treasures. Wonderfully written poem, Tate. And I love the title. It suits this piece incredibly well.

[Kelsie Eileen Stark]

Amazing- friends are trinquets that sit on our shelves- reminding us of memories never forgotten.
Beautifully written!

[Lauren Beth]

This was great, true friends are hard to come by so when we find one we must hold on to them tightly and cherish them...wear them close like a favorite T-shirt. Love it!

[MarcoftheBeast]

fascinating write... very inspiring and heartfelt... it's what makes this poem great.. i felt it. great job.
i have not written anything new yet by the way... you can check out my old ones if you don't mind.thanks. =)

[Sydney Evans]

I am glad I was lucky enough to read this. (:

[The Analog Kid]

This is exactly how I operate. Kind of like when you pick out produce at the grocery store. I don't just grab any tomato or whatever. I keep the numbers low and the quality high. It's an investment, right? Sure there's always room to try new friends, but in the end, the old favorites are always there.

[Bard Constantine]

As always, a reflective and inspirational piece...

[KATHY SUE SILLS]

Love the imagery you potrayed in this poem! Great friends are hard to come by, when you have them we must be thankful and cherish each one like a special shirt we wear! Great poem!

[Lena M. P.]

Very true Tate. I loved your poem. They are like a soft warm shirt. They feel good, they are broken in and the fit best when they are around us. I have lost a few to death and I recently found three I thought I had lost through time. I had moved very far away and lost touch with them but they found me. Turns out they had been looking for me for over 30 years! We have been playing catch up and these precious times we are having are all the more special to me. I plan to go back up to Michigan some time this year and have a real catching up party.

[Geralyn Miller]

Each of us is fortunate indeed, to have a few good and loyal true friends. Friends who laugh with you, not at you, fr4iends who will defend you to others, then chew you out in private for doing what you did.; friends who will loan you their last dollar, knowing you would do the same for them. You are right, old friends are like a comfortable old shirt, from which you will never part. True friends are few and far between, keep them close.

[S Sanders]

Beautiful writing.