Floating around on a mat in the pool
Feet in the water to try and stay cool
Loving how sweet the long summer day seems
When all I do is laze idly and dream
Thinking of topics that seem quite absurd
And musing of matters that have occurred
I started considering how we will grow
To love a stranger we've gotten to know
Why does one call such a stranger a friend?
Which friends will stay friends and which are pretend?
How do two people find peace and resolve?
What makes a friendship stay strong or dissolve?
Pondering 'til all my fingers were prunes
I knew how I'd spend my whole afternoon
Leaving the pool with these questions in mind
Hoping for answers and insight I'd find
Stopped at the stable and peeked in the stalls
Finding three horses, two big and one small
Two stand together and weep when alone
Finding it stressful to be on one's own
"Why so dependent on others?" I voice
"Time by yourself is not such a bad choice."
Shaking their manes they dismiss that whole view
Splitting the herd is like taming the shrew
"Go it alone and you are some cat's prey
Live in a herd and you're safer," they say
"Friendship ensures someone has got your back
Some days it saves you from grizzly attacks."
"What about you?" I say to the pony
"Your friendships change, but you never get lonely.
From a cow to a mule, you seem not to mind
You are a companion because you're so kind."
"I get along great with everyone, yes.
You should try it sometime. But I digress.
Guess you could say I am eager to please.
In the end it just means my life is a breeze."
Done with the stables, I thought that I might
Seek out some carnivores for more insight
The wolf pack was friendly and surely had
Wisdom from their ways of life they could add:
"Surviving alone could maybe be done
But hunting in packs is ten times as fun.
Catching a hare, you could do on your own
But packs can take down a buck that's full-grown."
Beside me I saw the bear looking on
Compared to a wolf, bears seem so withdrawn
"Why don't you bears also live in large packs?
Who do you have as your friends?" I asked.
"Friends come in all shapes and sizes, you see.
I may be alone but am sure not lonely.
The birds come say hi to me during the day,
And at night the rodents will come out to play."
I looked to my West at the sun sinking down
And started to wind my way back into town
Before I could turn came a 'whoosh' by my ear
A small furry bat had perched itself near
"If I may add," he chimed so polite
"Us bats live together and come out at night.
In our bond each of us protects all the others
It's called altruism, to die for your brothers."
Processing all that I'd learned while outside
I looked down to see my dog at my side
"You're my best friend," was all that she said
So I leaned down to give her a kiss on the head
Whether a friendship from childhood days
Or one that's developing even today
Stay close even if you're drifting apart
And always leave room for friends in your heart.
