Dear Barbara,
Remember when
We used to pray
And say amen
To all of our
Troubles and cares
Passing them on –
Gone – to “One Upstairs”
Who heard our words
Read our mettle
Enclosing us
Thus to settle
And face what came–
Oh! Life was hard
Especially
Yours. See — one card
Then another —
Life dealt you crap
Death, illness, hell
Fell in your lap
Week after week
We bowed our heads
We wept, we prayed
Life frayed to shreds
Why did we stop?
I don’t recall
Did we give up?
Our cups to fall
And break, as did
Our friendship? I
Wish I knew what
Shut that door. Why?
Why do people
Move on from God,
Friends, prayers, tears?
Fears? Fatigue? Fraud?
I am a fraud
Yes, yes. That’s true
But we did pray
A day or two
I was out for a drive with a friend the other night, and suddenly I recognized the landscape, the roads, the buildings. It had been years since I had driven out there but I used to meet weekly to pray with a friend. She lived out there.
We stopped meeting rather abruptly some 20 years ago — and I don’t remember why. I don’t remember a falling out. I don’t remember a lot of things from those years. They were so stressful.
But the stresses in my life were miniscule in comparison with hers.
This poem came out of the hashing around of those memories.
I need to add that faith failures — the doubts, the fatigue — they are all MINE, not hers. Pretty sure, anyway.
Hot Dogs and Marmalade 
Such an evocative poem Sally. I hope your friend is in a good place
Thanks, Sadje. Me, too.
🙏🏼🤍🙏🏼
So sad a state that the friendship evaporated. I hope she didn’t give up on God. God on the other hand never gives up on a person… A lovely evocative poem!
Sometimes I wonder if I’m the one giving up on God. I’m quite sure she has not.
So sad Sally. I do hope your friend is OK. Sometimes these things happen and we dont understand them. God bless you Sally ❤️
Thank you. I think she is doing okay. I’m just sorry if I didn’t do all that I should have to preserve our friendship.
💜💜
That’s a powerful prayer, Sally. How are you? My life continues being one where I travel back and forth home – CT/RI to help my aunt and mom and assist Peter to a degree as his assistant. Our daughter who was very ill a year ago with hospitalizations at Yale-New Haven is doing well although her medical diagnosis isn’t sure… (Not sure you know about that) There’s more of course – but I have just today to wrap things up before heading home tomorrow. Wish my travels took me closer to Cooperstown. Love,Nancy
Sent from Yahoo Mail for iPhone
Made me remember friends gone and times passed.
Powerful writing, Sally 💞