The Friendship Market

All the gains I've made since March
In the friendship market
Have been erased--
One case of cancer,
One case of "too busy,"
Two cases of . . . comment dit-on?
Je ne sais quoi.
Such are the ups and downs of the speculator,
Who only gets breaks momentarily
Before the next inevitable slide.
The problem is: the optimism,
The burbling joy that anticipates
Halcyon stretches of happiness,
Leaves the investor vulnerable,
Knocks down the defensive barrier
That shields him from the fractiousness
Underlying humanity.
Thus, he's compelled to hoard his love,
Withhold affection, skimp on hugs,
Squirrel away his fantasies
Of twentyfourseven companionship,
And lock up his heart as he would a vault.