i thought you were my friend.

stronger than sirocco storms
on oasis from the heat
i thought you made of sterner stuff
surprised to find you not
your mettle melted into a merely moist mirage.

it would have been much easier
had you given explanation
paused to clarify--specify--expound--elucidate
but instead you chose to hit and run
craven cowardice your cover
coiled in callow disregard
your velvet venom lethal
i'd have seen it coming
had it been from anyone but you.

   so
you left me gutted
from your verbal shrapnel shot
fighting blizzards of confusion
foggy haze of happenstance
unable to grasp a shadow,
nail jello to a tree
nor thaw your icy indifference into desert degrees.

   and then
retching rage, white hot and seething
belching black and dark within
frustration frothing
angry tears of private pain
indignation embered,
shrieking caldron of consternation
dismay at fever pitch
   bereaved
   i thought you were my friend.

but in the desert you proved a poor mirage
mere mannequin of reality
and now, disappointed
all that's left is, "i forgive you"
because friends can.

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