Poem by Dan Stone
Once upon a time
I had so many friends.
We got along so well,
had so much fun.
Such games we played
and what secrets
they would tell me
when the grownups
left the room.
My favorite was
“You’re not alone.”
I learned to keep them
to myself—they said
it’s best that way
since once you’re
on your own
you tend to tune
things out that
don’t make sense,
that don’t fit in
with what the grownup
world is all about.
I remember thinking
that was sad,
and promising
I’d not forget
or let them go.
I could imagine
anything but that.
But just like that
or so it seemed,
I turned around
and found myself
every bit alone
as them, as those
I promised I would
never be.
I’m not sure how.
I’m not sure when.
I couldn’t say just where
I’d been or where
they’d gone--
those faithful friends--
Only that I wish I knew
what I’d known then.
Only that as soon
as I remembered them
and just said
please come back
they said hello again,
and there they were
beside me in full view
in my old and not
so grown up room
where I used to love
to live, where I’d
never been alone,
where they’d been
all along.
Once upon a time
I had so many friends.
We got along so well,
had so much fun.
Such games we played
and what secrets
they would tell me
when the grownups
left the room.
My favorite was
“You’re not alone.”
I learned to keep them
to myself—they said
it’s best that way
since once you’re
on your own
you tend to tune
things out that
don’t make sense,
that don’t fit in
with what the grownup
world is all about.
I remember thinking
that was sad,
and promising
I’d not forget
or let them go.
I could imagine
anything but that.
But just like that
or so it seemed,
I turned around
and found myself
every bit alone
as them, as those
I promised I would
never be.
I’m not sure how.
I’m not sure when.
I couldn’t say just where
I’d been or where
they’d gone--
those faithful friends--
Only that I wish I knew
what I’d known then.
Only that as soon
as I remembered them
and just said
please come back
they said hello again,
and there they were
beside me in full view
in my old and not
so grown up room
where I used to love
to live, where I’d
never been alone,
where they’d been
all along.