"A World Without Friendship?"

To reach out
Touch
Feel the warmth
Of a loving, caring friend
This is the greatest
The most wonderful
Joy of the world

I reach out daily
I search, I try
Few return
Many hug
Like a limp handshake
No caring
No feeling
No love behind it
Others fear contact
Yet others fear themselves

Whether the fear
Is of the other
Or the self
The fear builds a barrier
A wall between
I, I try not to
With all that I am
Yet I find in myself
Walls as strong
As fortified
As any I challenge

Regardless of choice
Whether to befriend or betray
The chance of pain is equal
Whether to love or hate
There is little difference
I find much pain
Much more pain than I show
In my short and simple life
Perhaps my pain hurts
Perhaps it tears at my life
Yet what would I be
Where would I be
Had those things which hurt
Not happened to me
Would I have grown
Or have stagnated

As much as I try
To prove to myself that I lack friends
I find myself failing
Surrounded by many
My fault lies in loving
My love I grant easily
My trust even easier
So I hurt, and am hurt
Each person that passes
From my meager life
Each time one leaves
My pain grows
I learn slowly
Or not at all
Whether I do or not
My love still grows
With each day I love more
All who touch my life
And so my pain
My scars
My sores
Will forever increase

Before you cast me out
Before you misjudge me
However I may act
However I may seem
My friends are all I have
All that is important to me
Without my friends
I am an empty hull
Without your friendship
Your caring
Your love
Without you
I am nothing

Remember those who are close
Remember those who care
Those people are the most important
Most priceless gems of your life
Money cannot buy them
Objects cannot replace them
And once they are gone
They rarely will return

I am your friend
And always will be
I hope, I pray
That you will think of me
Once in a while
And remember me
And care