An Old Friend - Visitor's Poem

by Vickie L Smith
(Henderson, West Virginia, USA)

Tonight an old friend called.
While the wind blew outside.
Asked me if he could come and talk to me.
Said he would like to make things right.
He told me he would be here in the next hour or so.
I said alright, then I hung up the phone.
So while sitting at my table, this truck pulled into my drive.
So I went outside to greet him.
I said hello friend, it's been a long, long time.
For back when everything was different.
When everything seemed right.
I asked him to come inside, for it was a chilling night.
We walked inside and sat down at my table.
Then I offered him a cup of coffee and smile.
I said why did you want to see me tonight
He then kinda of drop his head, there's a tear in his eyes.
Then he paused for a moment, his tears he could not hide.
Then he begin to proceed.
He said I needed to talk to you.
I needed to get this off my mind.
He handed me the letter, there's still tears in our eyes.
So I sat down to read his letter.
This is what the letter said.
He started it out "To one of my Dearest Friends.
I remember the fun times we had.
The walks we took into the woods.
After the sun when down.
How we would sat on the creek bank.
Just to listen to how it would sound.
Then we would walk hand in hand up the hills and down.
I remember how we used to listen to country music.
With all of our friends.
I guess everything was different way back then.
I guess our hearts were foolish.
The sky though was always blue.
We used to walk out under the stars at night
and have a beer or two.
When we would hold each other tight.
Seem like the feeling was always right.
Then we would lie together under a pale moon light.
We used to have our own little picnics.
That's when we would drink our wine.
Yes my friend I needed to see you tonight.
I just need to say I'm sorry about what happened to you and I.
I need to also say I'm sorry to our Daughter.
Who's growing up now.
She's so beautiful, so divine.
Our Daughter who I never spent no time with.
That makes me want to cry.
I'm very sorry for missing out on all that time.
When I decided to leave you and her behind.
I'm sorry for breaking your hearts into two.
I was foolish for walking out on the both of you.
I ask you both to forgive me.
Will you at least still be my friend.
I needed someone to talk to, tonight.
My wife would not understand."
He then said there was not a day that when by.
Seem like somehow you both were always on my mind.
How I thought about the both of you time after time.
Then I realized I never told you both good bye.
Seem like you both were always in my heart somewhere.
But I would just try to brush it off, like a leaf blowing into thin air.
For I still don't understand myself why I wanted to leave.
But I need you to know you were always there for me.
He then said I remember how I would make you so mad at me.
For all the foolish things I would do.
I also remember all the times I stepped out on you.
You would get so mad and then curse me.
Well I guess you had the right.
But you would always take me back.
After we would fight.
Now I understand how much you loved me.
It was more than I ever knew.
He then said he was so dammed foolish, so damn confused.
I really did not know how true your love was for me.
Still yet I left you standing there crying.
There was a sad look upon your beautiful face.
Your heart must had been breaking.
Like a dead red rose inside of an empty vase.
When I saw this it made my heart quivered like a cold winter's day.
I thought to myself it would be okay.
He then said but I was not okay.
For you both stay embedded in my heart.
Then how I would wish for the happier days.
When we would use to talk.
The long walks into the woods.
The sound of the creek.
I miss walking the hills with you.
Us holding hands under a pale moon light.
I miss our picnics us drinking wine.
All of our friends so dear.
I miss the beauty you always had.
Our Daughter who's growing up now.
All the quiet times we once shared.
He then said I miss your laughter.
I miss your smiles. I miss your love.
I know there is no hope for us now.
I miss your kisses. Your heartbeat next to mine.
I miss the spark that was in your beautiful eyes.
Sorry for the pain I put you both through.
Sorry I wasn't always there for you.
Sorry about the love you both offered me.
In my eyes right then I just could not see.
All the love you both offered me.
Sorry for crushing your dreams.
Then he said. I am sorry for so many things.
Will you hold me one last time?
I need to feel your loving heartbeat once again next to mine.
So I held him one last time.
I walk with him one last time once again,
under the pale moon light.
We look at the stars together one last time.
He said I am thankful you're still my friend.
Then he begin to cry once again.
Said his wife just don't understand.
Why I needed to see you one last time.
He said will you kiss me once again?
I did then he said goodbye.
So I watched him drive away one last time.
With teardrops in my eyes.
He then was gone and out of sight.
He went that very night.
While I stood under a pale moon light.
He now lives in a place so bright he walks under God's pale moon light.
He came to make things right that night.
Now I stand alone under this pale moon light, good night.