He’s Gone (for George)
He’s a bust-my-buttons hello
A faithful friend; we’ve
weathered some shitstormish eras
when nothing made sense
(save ourselves and
our good opinion of each other)
The kind of friend you can hug
and not let go
and know
it never has to get weird
The one who understands
the digressions of an alcoholic parent
who is like a child – and can
also laugh at some of the confusion
The one with whom you can
watch movies in total silence
or howl and poke each others’
arms, like “yeah!”
He hit the road again
just now
and I wrote this to remember
He’s a quick-before-we-cry
goodbye
An endless paradox
An understandable conundrum
He’s George
© 2013 Amy Barlow Liberatore/Sharp Little Pencil
Some friends you keep forever. After forty years of our friendship and many years of knowing my husband too, George will always be a part of our lives. We should all be so lucky to have someone like that in our lives!
Posted at ABC Wednesday (V is for VISIT!) and in the margins at Poets United and Imaginary Garden With Real Toads. Peace, Amy
Sharp Little Pencil 
seingraham
Sounds like one of the best Ames…glad to see you writing…I’ve been MIA myself lately so you might have been writing all along, but I really love this!
Sharp Little Pencil
Thanks, Sharon… I’ve missed you! A
vandana
It is a blessing of god to have such a friend and that place of his can no one ever fill.
http://vivinfrance.wordpress.com
Friends are a crucial aspect of humanity and must be cherished. To be remembered is a form of immortality.
Roger Green
Yes, precious support.
J Cosmo Newbery
A precious friend, by George. A beautiful and touching piece, Amy.
brian miller
it is rather lucky to have friends such as george…those long standing friendships as well gain depth and understanding…i hope he is ok, as at first i though this meant he had passed on, and if he has, i am sorry for the loss of that relationship
Sharp Little Pencil
Oh, THAT gone… no, he just went out the door to see his daughter, who just announced she is pregnant! But thanks for covering the bases, I love you for that, Brian. Amy
Sara v
A wonderful sum of friendship. We should all be so lucky, and I love the word “shitstormish” 🙂 Nice to see you back!
Rajesh
Very well written for a friend.
Lyndee
Too many conmtipemls too little space, thanks!
Jae Rose
Isn’t silence the test of real friendship and love..real friends should always be treasured..here’s to all the George’s (and Amy’s for I am sure he would say the same) in the world x
Sharp Little Pencil
Someday, Jae, we will sit and have a cuppa and talk about nothing and everything… Love, Amy
lupitatucker
You captured your feelings towards George in a way that I can relate, very beautiful! Those are the kinds of friendships that make our lives full, the kind of friendship that begs for a poem.
Sharp Little Pencil
Lupita, it’s funny. Friendships between straight guys and women are tricky, for sure, especially the long-term ones. But George is too cool to miss – he’s a keeper! Gracias (just saw your “Fumo” post!), Amy
Carver
You are such a gifted writer. I wanted to let you know that you were correct about my shot being in full color although it wasn’t very colorful.
Sharp Little Pencil
Carver, thanks for this. That picture is living in my head like a jewel.
I’m so glad we are on each others’ blogs, when we can be! Amy
Sherry Blue Sky
Oh yes, friends like George are so rare. Such a blessing! Love “he’s a quick-before-you-cry goodbye”.
Sharp Little Pencil
Somehow I knew that would tickle you, Sherry. And it’s true – we always have to run away after the last hug before we start blubbering. Lex, too. Love, Amer
Eusebeia Philos
dang…so few friends like this in our lives…great job of acknowledging your friend and his influence in your life…
Sharp Little Pencil
Eusebeia, thanks so much for commenting! It’s true… in fact, some people don’t let anyone in this close, which is their loss. Lifelong friends are treasures. And George is worth every good word I said about him. Coming to your blog now… Peace, Amy