Friendships That Are Not That
Val enjoys writing prose in rhymes by always leaving a message of a life truism in each piece.
The word "friend" is a label anyone can try on. You decide who is best suited to wear it.
-- Carlos Wallace
Introduction
To discover a true alter-ego in a friend may be just as hard as to find a true love -- and maybe that's why we keep experimenting in both areas, the outcome almost depending on sheer luck. More often than not, we run into those who don't qualify -- while with friends we may not be particularly choosy.
Probably, unlike with our final choice of a love-mate, we won't have to see them daily, and those few personality traits that we share seem to be enough. But then, as those things that make us sharply different start speaking much louder than those that we have in common, it growingly becomes a nuisance.
In the following three pieces of my prose in rhymes I am trying to touch those very moments of realization how we are just wasting time calling someone a friend. (someone who might also be a relative).
Solitude That Nourishes and Heals
There was that time during my early start
when friends were scarce by a crazy fate
loneliness sat heavy on my friendly heart
and yet a blessing with nothing to regret.
Wandering in this world with no compass and map
I met many characters from novels and stages
drawn to me by chance or some weird mishap
a colorful gallery of faces of all different ages.
Apparently friendly -- at least by their pose
with a passing smile measured in a dose
or empty bottle that would bring us close
but not a type for poem, more for prose.
So when I got a clue what was going on
it was like myself being in that room only
and then I quietly wished to be left alone
maybe to end up feeling much less lonely.
At other occasions compliment would come
before I discovered some cosmetic pretenses
as he would turn nothing but shallow and dumb
didn't need much more to get back to my senses.
So again, it was like me in that room only
while I quietly wished to be left alone
maybe to end up feeling less lonely.
Those times are gone, and yet I can't lie and pretend
for there are still times when that past would return
when in the middle of hosting some good friend
reluctant to face it, but being forced to learn.
Yes, it feels like myself at my home only
while I'm secretly wishing to be left alone
maybe to end up feeling much less lonely.
Those are moments we've got to face
when we need time for a quiet reflection
and our own company no one can replace
with just a wrong time for a friendly connection.
A frenemy can be more destructive than an enemy.
-- Angel Moreira
Only a Friend When Needed
Today you are that welcome guest
as if you are finally allowed your turn
but don't call tomorrow not to be a pest
maybe time has come for a lesson to learn.
Seasonal friend, like a disposable tissue
serves purpose, to be promptly dropped
after relieving someone's personal issue
before it even started, a friendship stops.
Like a tossed and still burning cigarette butt
and swearing never again to be a naiive fool
but that's something you so oftentimes forgot
for, here you go again -- flunking at that school.
Now you may try harder to stick to that heart
as if proving to yourself how you're worth more
but again everything turns out not to be so smart
for nothing is happening that didn't happen before.
Serving as emotional disposal bin
with all others left outside at the curb
that call like depending on roulette spin
otherwise it's just that sign: "Do Not Disturb".
Well, call yourself an orange, or apple, or pear
but always be patient for your season to come
in the meantime pretend that you don't care
as long as you can see it as a little dumb.
Shine with a genuine golden heart, not with a business egotistic sparkle.
-- Angelica Hopes

Peacocks Are Naturally Beautiful. Imitating Them Is Unnaturally Ugly -- Especially When Done by Friends
Friend Looking Down on You
In this world of shameless greed
with values holding a second place
the last thing that you may ever need
is a friend with whom you have to race.
Advantage hidden in a friendly smile
with a look no need to mention
as if she's going an extra mile
by giving you attention.
When friendship is based on conditions
setting for itself some high price tagging
we shouldn't feed such friend's ambition
by playing an underdog with tail wagging.
Humbleness, a wrong trait
without an intention to compete
only helping friend's ego to inflate
making her upper hand game sweeter.
Using you as mirror of her higher status
snobbish in her dumb egocentric mission
looking at your success as at pitiful hiatus
always in a mood for un-sporty competition.
High-nosed people live and die lonely
with no relationship honest and true
using others as their audience only
but they don't have to include you.
© 2020 Val Karas
Comments
Peggy Woods from Houston, Texas on December 08, 2020:
Some friendships come and go for various reasons, and a few are shared for a lifetime. The latter ones are indeed special!
Val Karas (author) from Canada on December 08, 2020:
Thank you, Vanita, I am glad you liked the poems.
Vanita Thakkar on December 07, 2020:
Nice ones, Val - straight and simple. I loved all the quotes - and the pictures with quotes. Thanks for sharing.