Was A Friend

Was A Friend (Wyatt, Hopper)

Furry kind of greeting, not exactly hostile,
Not exactly facing, not exactly turning away,
Not exactly frowning, not exactly smiling.
Lurking by the door
Without a sign of wanting to move.
Though hardly friendly, not an angry gesture
Did it make. Just quite unnerving.
It's been a long time.
I almost forgot were we buried the hatchet.
'Bin a long time no see',
pidgin English
Native to none
After several silences
A cautious head nod.
This could take forever.
Did it want to come for a dig?
It did. Not answer.
I was feeling restless at the door,
Ashamed of my fears.
Where was the hatchet?
Suddenly was gone.
I woke up feeling stupid.
No-one else awake
Though dawn was only minutes away.
Quietly I rose to fill the morning pee pot.
What a silly dream,
Not like what really would have occurred.
Old wounds are healing.
Faded scars are painless – just an itch.
We are forgiven.
It's been a long time.