Fading

All friendships fade eventually.

Best friend?

I had a best friend once.

Her name was Kennedy and she liked to sing.

We played together on the playground.

We shared our favorite tickle-me-pink crayon.

We hated cooties and naptime and vegetables.

We loved skirts and princesses and drawing.

We wrote plays and dances about our futures.

Together, forever, to conquer the world

Arrogant and united in our preschool wisdom.

Then one day I skipped a grade, and she did not.

And she faded.

 

Best friend?

I had best friends once.

Twelve years we did everything together.

“Best Friends Forever Club” we decreed.

We had slumber parties, bake sales, and play dates.

We grew up on Disney, Tom and Jerry, and crayon popsicles.

We knew each other’s secrets, hopes, desires, and dreams.

We had inside jokes and went skating on the creek.

Together, forever, to conquer the world

Siblings separated at birth but united once more.

Then one day they decided I wasn’t cool anymore.

And they faded.

 

Best friend?

I had best friends once.

High school is limitless, and so were we.

Bandos, nerds, and psychopaths galore,

We went to Taco Bell after pep band.

We played Apples to Apples in the library.

We quoted Sherlock Holmes and had band jokes.

We scorned the less weird, the less crazy, the less fun.

Sorting the people who sorted us.

Together, forever, to conquer the world.

We were The S**t, and we knew it.

Then one day we graduated and all went away.

And they faded.

 

Best friend?

I had best friends once.

We punched our way into the world

Gung ho to help, to fight a cause,

What cause was irrelevant.

We shared a passion for everything and everything.

We were all grown up; that’s what college means.

We were all so ready to make a difference.

We were going to make a difference together.

Together, forever, to conquer the world.

For who could do it better?

And then the passion was gone.

We graduated, got jobs, and went away.

And they faded.

 

Best friend?

I had a best friend once.

Beautiful and perfect, with eyes like the moon.

Adoring, loving, trusting eyes,

Tiny fingers that grasped one of mine.

Tiny lips that formed a perfect “o” when surprised.

We shared everything, my daughter and I.

A me in miniature, minus the faults.

I was there for her always, though she doesn’t know.

Together, forever, to conquer the world.

But she wanted no part of my world-conquering schemes.

She, too, graduated, got a job, and went away.

Only to be seen at holidays and reunions.

And she faded.

 

Best friend?

I had a best friend once.

Handsome and gentlemanly with eyes like the sun.

Smoldering, protective, gentle eyes.

A voice of silk velvet that could calm a storm.

Seventy years we shared everything, my husband and I.

A home, a heart, a body, a soul.

Like large quantities of hot water or tea or books.

The peanut butter to my jelly,

The other half of my heart.

Together, forever, to conquer the world,

Or at least, our small corner of it.

And then one day, I held his hand.

As he faded.

 

And now I do believe that I am fading, too.

Somehow, it's not nearly so painful from this side.

Author's Note

In my defense, I wrote this in about 10 minutes at one in the morning when I couldn't sleep.

Reviews

[Riley Bray]

Stop the presses! I love this poem! If you don't get published, AND SOON, I will start to bald from stress. SERIOUSLY! Wow. Just wow. I can't find flaws with any of your works! Sheesh woman, just sheesh!

[Lori Shwydky]

Wow- it's hard to believe you wrote this in only 10mins!

Thank you for reviewing my story, "The Ascent" - and for catching my spelling error! (chocking)

I feel compelled to comment on your work because your poems moved me, especially "Fading". I realize you are 15, but your writing elicits wisdom of someone who has lived longer than that. Bravo! You are a born writer...and I have never said that to anyone before. Please keep on writing; you have a great talent!
Lori

[coach cheryl]

Amazing!!! I THOROUGHLY enjoyed reading this. Each stanza brought back memories of past relationships and stirred emotions inside of me. My sister-in-law is a freelance writer and I will definitely show this to her so she can give you some more feedback. I am a teacher and not a writer but came to this website to find some excellent writing. I would love to share your poetry with my middle school class with your permission.

[coach cheryl]

That's awesome! Of course, I will use your real name. I will just be displaying it on the whiteboard and won't be duplicating it so I will not infringe on your copyright. .... I am sure that you WILL be published one day.

[Nightingale]

This is so peaceful and sad at the same time. I like it! But you randomly have an a in "eyes" in the last stanza. But other than that, it's quite good. I like the repetition, which led on to the greater theme. Also the emotion with the splitting up o the last two lines really added to the effect.