Friendships

Some people value their friendships
greater than gold and material comforts
rely on them to get through the tough times
company for the cold nights
someone to laugh and play with
to make each day more special
because they’re together
for a lifetime
and some, like me,
are married to their best friend.

There is no one I’d rather spend time with
our conversations are the most intimate
we get along most of the time
and feel too lonely when we are apart
other people intrude and we get anxious
to leave them behind so we can be alone

with each other, planning
our new adventures,
recalling our best memories
we banter like two comedians
routines practiced without effort
we finish each other’s sentences.

People I know get angry
thinking there is something wrong with me
they say, “You don’t have many friends,
and the ones you have you keep away.”
but what they don’t understand is I spend time
with my best friend and he’s the one

I want to be with
living is simple with him
no gossip, no jealousy, no envy
laughter is frequent
satisfaction attainable
conversations provocative
and mind expanding.

We’ve been friends
for almost fifty years
married for forty-four
we’ve parented and traveled
together, remodeled homes
and watched the same television shows
the older we get the more we become
exclusive, safe in the friendship
we have together.