The Song of Friends

Dreams

by Melissa Campbell

I woke this morning touching two different worlds,

each challenging me to embrace the real,

tension pulling unfeigned, unfurled
from one side to the other
like a double strand of pearls

or strings of paper lights twinkling
bright across junior high dance floor,

where wishful girls paint the wall in flowers,

and awkward boys huddle opposite

giving cold shoulder
to what they don't understand,

and where the ethereal and earthy

struggle to come together

for just one dance.

I hold on to the letting go

for as long as I can;

while light vanquishes shadows
and images of friends disappear,

I linger in heaven glow,
beholding what few choose to see
or know
this side of reality.

And with eyes wide open
I hug another day empty of them,

except for maybe the gift of a call

or treasured words in the mail, 

penned pretty in calligraphy.

I think of their smiles

and the smell of their perfume,

and I remember our time together

when we sang praises to the King,

and I ache with lonely sometimes

missing what used to be. 

I leave behind the land of dreams

and visions dancing, not only in my sleep,

the kicking up our heels and laughing,

falling on the floor in out-of-breath wonder at God,

and joy confetti sticking to our skin,

drenching deep to quench our soul-thirst,

and the listening

to the tinkling of angel wings

and strumming of guitar strings

being played by little children,

with no cares in this world

but loving Him

and each other.

Whether awake or asleep,

I reach out and touch their spirits

touching mine

--for we are one in God,

and I find us twirling

round and round

in childish delight,

me and these kindred ones,

our souls wrapped warm in holy embrace,

with love flowing, blessed and broken,

stretching from here to there
and back again,

fitting us together snug,

as we dance
to the song of friends.

I was dreaming of beloved friends when I woke this morning, and wrote this in honor of them.  --You hold a piece of my heart.  Be blessed. 

Posting at: On, In and Around Mondays with L.L. Barkat.

Photo Credit: flickr - Kathryn Decker-Krauth