Perfect Strangers

The language of friendship is not words but meanings. - Thoreau

we met in the parking lot

passing each other on the divided highway of the rooming house

he

adopted

just turned sixty

been drinking since he was fourteen

says i'm his friend

today i cleaned his room for him

why?

because he asked

because i owe

because i need to kill the uppity pride i wear like a prison uniform

because i need some damned humility back in my life

because he's he and i'm me

because i need to learn how to be a true friend

mountain of beer cans

some empty

most containing urine, vomit and spent cigarettes

because that's the way it is

ungodly smell

bugs everywhere

floor sticky

doesn't matter how life broke us

broken is broken

doesn't matter how we each got here

we're here

perfect is a state of mind

prayers come in bottles and cans too

you're welcome mike

my friend

perfect stranger

forever

Author's Note

"The most I can do for my friend is simply be his friend." - Thoreau

Reviews

[R.J Calzonetti]

For some reason you sound like Charles Bukowski today. I like it. This man needs a friend, I'm glad you're there to be that person. Someday, your generosity will be rewarded I think. Thanks for sharing this masterpiece of a poem. People forget the beauty of people, especially the glory of those who never get to shine, but rust into someone else's treasures. The best we can do is care for each other, love each other, and die.

[Pete]

interesting - i've been told before on another write that i sound like bukowski (had never heard of him before or read him). what you say is so true. he's killing himself with booze, can't stop and needs someone to simply care. thank you r.j for taking the time and seeing it with a receptive heart ... :)

[R.J Calzonetti]

And thank you for sharing, I'll be around to see what you write next.

[Dave Brown]

It is a sad life for some and folks such as you are in awfully short supply

[Pete]

thanks dave. took me 2 days and three extra large trash bags. i'm no saint but how can i be happy when people around me are suffering. i can't just look the other way and ignore - he's really a great guy when you get to know him and got dealt some bad cards in life from the get-go ... :)

[Dave Brown]

...............!!..................