Iona Winter

I had a friend like that once too.

 

He spoke to me

of faraway places

with the sun in his eyes.

 

I remember his crinkled

mouth edges

and tree-like arms

around my back.

 

I had a friend like that once too.

 

You told me today

of someone like him

and I recalled being

loved in ways

no words could describe.

 

I only noticed

just before he left,

when he eased the knots

from my hair,

laying on a hospital cot

and I didn’t want to say goodbye.

 

I had a friend like that once too.