In my 60-plus years on this earth, there have been three long-term friendships that I’ve walked away from. I won’t go into the dynamics of any of them, but I will say that I don’t wish ill on any of them. Just the opposite, I hope life is treating them well.
Alive? Dead? May you rest in peace
Conflicts rifted to friendship’s end
Glide bluest skies, your heart at ease
In other times, we are still friends
Conflicts rifted to friendship’s end
Sliced cuts, rope frayed with words and deeds
In other times, we are still friends
You were not there in times of need
Sliced cuts, rope frayed with words and deeds
We clung too long the twine was greased
You were not there in times of need
My shortcomings left you displeased
We clung too long the twine was greased
One of us had to let loose, fall
My shortcomings left you displeased
Relieved but grieved; no funeral
One of us had to let loose, fall
Bruised; to stand again a struggle
Relieved but grieved; no funeral
Missing piece, different puzzle
Bruised; to stand again a struggle
Time reflection, mirror healing
Missing piece, different puzzle
Insights lead to balm of feeling
Time reflection, mirror healing
Glide bluest skies, your heart at ease
Insights lead to balm of feeling
Alive? Dead? May you rest in peace
Morgan Dragonwillow (and today’s co-host, Punam) is the host of OctPoWriMo. Punam says:
What of broken relationships, broken souls and limbs? Sometimes we are able to mend them sometimes scars remain… How do we heal ourselves?
Word Prompts:
Discouraged
Broken wings
Healing
Strength
Calm
Acceptance
Precious
Suggested Poetry Form : Pantoum
image link here
Tao Talk 
A beautiful poem! I have had friends like those too.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Sadje. I’m glad you can connect with the poem. It hurt me to say goodbye, but it needed to be done.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Absolutely right. Better part as friends than live as enemies
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sadly, there are times that it is best to end a friendship. I liked the line “in other times, we are still friends”, speaks to the inability to erase what has come before.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Heather, I like to think now of when we were friends in the happy times and not so much with the unhappy ones.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Life’s too short to dwell on the negative!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Gina introduced me to this form and I love it. But you are so right, Li. It seems easy but is difficult.
Some ties begin to choke us or fall apart on their own. This is a beautiful pantoum about how it is better to end something if it does not allow us to grow.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You know, Punam, that is exactly what it was about. I’m glad you understand. Yes the pantoum is a twisty biscuit but so tasty when complete. It’s the kind of form you can polish for a long time (if you have the time!)
LikeLiked by 1 person
So it is! I like twisty biscuit! I will keep tweaking and polishing mine!
LikeLiked by 1 person
One day I will revisit mine and tweak it. No time right now.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You are right, no time now!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I can relate in my own 60 plus years…it’s an inevitable reality. Even if I am no longer friends with some, I wish them no ill, and also have found the value in the relationship we shared. Every encounter is an opportunity to learn, and to grow.
Peace :)
LikeLiked by 1 person
<3 Very happy you can relate and I like what you're saying in your comment, Kat.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Missing piece, different puzzle…so true of life’s twistings and turnings. This is an excellent pantoum (as you know, a favorite form of mine) (k)
LikeLiked by 1 person
I saw one last night, by kryptic 13, that I loved. They did it with short lines and the poem came alive.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Very well written JadeLi. No hard feelings when we part as friends. Wish that were true for everyone.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you very much, Len. Sometimes the parting reason is more compelling than other times.
LikeLike
Ahh, that bittersweet lingering feeling that you weave in your pantoum. One can never really let that go, only make it sweeter at times, or more bitter at other times …. unless one develops Alzheimer’s over time :-)
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wonderful comment and appreciated. Good to see you again :) Will you be around for awhile?
LikeLiked by 1 person
You’re welcome, Ms. Jade. I wish I could get more time to write, but definitely, I will keep on coming back to read.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Happy to hear that, Said.
LikeLiked by 1 person
A beautiful poem! Heartfelt!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Richa.
LikeLiked by 1 person