Love Poem: Shoulder For Shoulder
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Written by: Andy Sprouse

Shoulder For Shoulder

Wonderful to hear thanks so honest and sweet,
even and especially as simply worded;
for just listening to a friend, such an easy feat,
to be with gratitude so girded.

'Mention a person that made your 2017 better',
'funny how I thought of you when I saw this';
a text, the modern-day version of a letter,
saying "I appreciate you" - what great bliss.

Some of her current concerns I've also felt dearly,
some of them are sadly unknown, alien to me;
I can only hope that my advice helps, sincerely,
the architect of another's missteps, I never wish to be.

More than just she come to me for aid,
and I do my best with what I know, and would do;
yet until her words, a connection I hadn't made,
before some block her plain praise broke through.

The hardest times of my life, someone's taken my hand,
every time so many helped me find my way;
a nudge or a shove in the direction of dry land,
and mostly they've had one thing in common to say.

'You're one of the strongest people I know',
and I've ascribed that to them being kind.
Perhaps that's more than beneficence though,
and to the reason I've been blind.

I think it's due to so many in my life,
who have exchanged my pain for theirs;
sorrow for sorrow, strife for strife,
we trade places as the Atlas that bears.

So it's my turn to thank and appreciate her,
for revealing to me such was the case;
that most of the constancy I can muster,
is due in large part to companions' grace.