The Deep Change

When dark clouds
and rainy days alone
feel more of a friend than
bright sunshine overhead
surrounded by a crowd
of acquaintances.

When you aren't
as sure of yourself
and feel rather awkward
where once you enjoyed
less inner scrutiny of yourself
and simply took for granted
and did what you did.

When you'd rather break free
from the social routine
and find a garden
with beautiful flowers
and just be.

When the simple
seems utterly and amazingly
fascinating
and you allow yourself
to dream.

My friend, I think you've
encountered a friend
of the most unusual kind.
Once you've been given
the opportunity to abide
and converse and share
heart to heart,
there isn't too many
outside of this one
that can satisfy.

You've taken company
with something unseen but has
depth and weight and substance.
It's ears are ever open to hear.
There is no judgement cast
or facial contempt.
There are no easy answers it gives
or quick ones at that.

And you've become.
You've become someone
in that stillness
that not many have gotten
a chance to become.

You've become.

A friend to silence.
A friend to wide-open,
trans-dimensional space.
A friend to reality and honesty,
to the vastness of real time
as it is.
It's probed you
and taken a deeper, inside look.

It never mocks your pain.
It doesn't snicker
at the emotions expressed
or desire to hurry you
through them
to get to greener pastures.

It has taken you
and turned you into
something useful.
For what? You have yet to
fully know.

But voices are calling
out of the far reaches
to join the stampede
of song and dance.

The pressure to leave
your gentle teacher and companion
leaves you feeling loss,
possibly even some grief
at the very thought.
Though at first,
you disdained, even wanted
to reject this one time enemy
turned friend.

You've become.
And it's strange,
in contrast to the contrast.
But it is what it is.
And even though
it may be hard to put
yourself into words,
you will never be the same.

Being alone
will do all this and more.
Only those who've been there
can ever plumb the depths
of thoughtful explore.