These Are My JOTtings...

Hard Lessons

From day to day this life I live.
It's sometimes easy, sometimes hard,
But always new the lessons give
upon a thought, upon a card.

My heart would be the faithful friend
to soul that's near or past the screen.
Unbidden hurt I'd quickly mend
that hopeful days be newly seen.

A silence seems to mean a loss
of fellowship through unknown err.
I'd get it back for bidden cost,
if speaking terms were offered there.

Desire would follow social rules,
if social rules were plainly known,
But often trips would make us fools
before we're wise and social grown.

If but faux pas were dancing steps,
I'd dance on stage with Fred Astaire,
But here I stand to plumb the depths
of social loss in friendship there.

The great mistake I often face
is how to ask for help I need
For when I think I ask in grace,
forgiveness oft I find I plead.

Response may never come to light.
In dark of shame I sit and cry
For there's no darker depth of night
than loss of friendship's needful sigh.

by Jay O'Toole
on June 10th, 2017