Friends

twilight creeps thru tangled wood where once a robin sang. 

through twig and leaf , o'er branch and bole where velvet moss did hang. 

 where feet trod earth and flowers birthed

 a new light of their own, 

though pathless, deep, and silent still

 the way therein is shown. 

 the fawn blends into shadow, the fox lies in the shade,

 and I, as wild as any, 

sought that which was not made. 

 amid the oak, madrone and fir, 

the buckeye and the bay, 

my heart yearned on for paradise, 

for light at end of day.

 the match flares bright, 

a flickering light, and touches wick to flame

 and shadows shrink away from me

 as fire does darkness tame. 

 the fire is bright now, 

in my breast where desire and secrets lie

and seeking light, within my dark bid fair companions,

 come now, nigh. 

 before us, uncertainty and behind, the deeper dark. 

beside us only friendship just kindled from a spark. 

 come friend, and dance a while with me 

And arm in arm we'll twine

 and merry make the evening though darkness crowd our time.

 and merry find the morning 

as we dance till faint first blush 

of that dawn that comes aborning cross the meadows, green and lush. 

 for it’s friends that bring us gladness 

and hold our sorrow near 

and friends that bring us comfort when burdened, filled with fear . 

and friends that carry us o'er 

that far darkness and water deep and friends

 that bend to hold us and close our secrets keep.