Keepsakes

I thought of 'us' again today,of how we once used to beinseparable, you and me
The walk from home to school and back,the blue water bottle and the red bag pack,Orange-cream biscuits and hopscotch fun,those endless tiffs over who'd lost, who'd won
Keepsakes of innocence that couldn't last,like solemn sentinels guard my pastAnd see to it that I never forget, the course of silence and regret. I told you not, I thought you'd see, how much you always meant to me
Soon with time, we both withdrewThe friendship bands our age outgrew,Stealing glances and holding handsreplaced the charm of those plastic bands.Dance class with our moves so groovyThe ticket stubs to every movie Those picnic baskets (now threadbare)Wrappers of toffees and candy we'd share
Time ticked on, we both stayed friends,You knew you'd lose me to the odds and ends,But you told me not, you thought I'd say,We waited until our parting day
Yet, in silence we bid farewell,Neither you nor I did tell.My eyes teared, my soul cried,I refused to let go of my foolish pride,You reminded me of our friendship bandand then quietly slipped something in my hand.You stood smiling through the pain;a half locket on a silver chain.The 'broken heart' told me that day,what you until then had dared not sayI stood tongue-tied, you couldn't see how much you'd always meant to me
With half the heart each in stride,I still wear mine around with pride.In memory of moments left behind,Like all these keepsakes in my mind
Piecemeal, fragmented, yet strong and freeReminders of who we used to beOf you and me, and what it means now,To be apart and still meet somehowin thoughts, in words, in poetry we make,in mind, in heart, in each keepsake
I thought of 'us' again todayOf how much has changed so to say And yet could not have changed enoughfor the world to catch our bluffOr drive us both to make amends,and go back to just being friends