To All the Friends I've Lost Before (a poem)

To all the friends I've lost before
Whose faces grace me nevermore
How could we smile so many days
And then just go our separate ways
And throw out all the gifts we gave
That we both swore we'd always save?

To all the friends I left behind
There were so many different kinds
Some always made their care so clear
So when they ached, I was always near
Some I met by luck, by chance
Some loved to write, some loved to dance

Some moved off to another place
Some left regrets too hard to face
Some knew me as their one true friend
Some I wish that I could hug again
Some I couldn't give what they asked
And our differences soon came unmasked

Now so many of them have gone
But my heart just can't move on
For in my mind, I see their faces
And remember each of their embraces
I wish I could, just for a while
Go back to when the tears were smiles

The photos and letters, I still hold close
From those that I cared for the most
I look at each and think so long
About where things had gone so wrong
For sure, amongst the many flaws
Were cracks that I myself had caused

To all the friends that said goodbye
Deep in my heart, they'll never die
For I still pray that with each friend
Some day I'll finally make amends
They'll give their warmth back to the heart
That shattered when we had to part.

-SW