Years are not measured
by growth of hands and feet,
muscle strength and clarity of vision

You, my dear young friend,
can teach us all,
lessons in a wisdom
rising from the crucible of pain
tempered slowly in the agony
of graduated levels of
Endurance

I am reduced to starkly humbled,
grateful smallness
in the presence of your
Spirit

In spite of Fear
In spite of Suffering
In spite of isolating Loneliness
STILL you love and hope
and fight to WIN

your inner Others
each a tribute to
your will to live
their will to live
memories, terrors, flashbacks,
dragging long hours through
the Night
clouding sunshine out of Day
always present whether
in awareness or still blocked

I have learned from you
my Friend
have been enriched deep
in my heart

safe hugs, lost tear,
lonely reaching out
wild hope for true release
and freedom

All I can offer you
my friend,
is gentle love
a listening ear
accepting heart
my friendship