Long years ago you said,
Don't ever change—
But time and age
(And wisdom, too, I hope)
Have left their mark.
The body fails,
grows weak,
needs much more maintenance.
The wit becomes slow;
The mind is more and more nostalgic.
The search for adventure is replaced
By the longing for home and calm.
All things are weighed in the scale of Priority.
You accuse me of being an impostor
Because I am no longer impervious to cold,
Because I can no longer eat or drink as once we did—
Because I no longer want to.
You make fun of my driving.
You say I am too grouchy
(Though I've always been a curmudgeon),
Because I no longer find your insults so amusing,
Because I am weary of your tired jokes,
Because I refuse to acknowledge you as the center of all attention.
Old friend, you too have changed.
I know when and why it happened,
When you became bitter and disillusioned.
Long years ago I said
I had glimpsed your soul.
I saw it fragile, bittersweet,
Good at heart, but tinged with sadness.
Now that fragility has led to brokenness,
And the tinge of sadness has given way to darker markings.
You are no imposter,
But deeply scarred,
Changed in appearance and form,
Not always recognizable.
Yet of your changes I have said nothing.
I have merely tried to be your friend,
Even as I mourned your disfigurement.
Still I wish to be your friend,
But I cannot keep up with the frenzied pace
Which you use to distract yourself from the pain.
I cannot laugh at your bitter jokes,
And I am embarrassed at your insulting comments.
Still I wish to be your friend,
But at a distance,
So that you do not infect me with your disillusionment.
Long years ago we had such fun,
But life is change—
There is nothing we can do to prevent the inevitable.
I hope and pray that my changes have been for the better;
I hope and pray that you will change for the better, too.
I cannot undo what changes have occurred—
You have changed,
I have changed,
Our friendship has changed.
Yet I hope this fact will not change:
You are still my friend.