It began as one of life's little discoveries
A new friend to talk to, to share with, to look forward to
On days when everything else was not much of an event
Kids in need, spouses too, daily chores galore
A few minutes of our own to laugh, discuss, create
Letters, notes, calls for sanity amidst our own to do list
We fit together like a pair of soft socks, comfortable, gentle, softies we are
Weeks passed, kids grew, life changed, we did too
As we forward pressed through living
Not expecting much of anything only the next day
Where our opinions were often left out of our own lives
To appease the inner turmoils to sate another's needs
Family first, keep them happy let go of our own escapes
Soon a soft silence came between us, calls stopped
Letters too, but we were just living and understood that
No need for harsh judgments or condemnations
Then out of the blue one day, a call, I was thinking about you
Or a small encouragement sent email, don't lose touch
Which became, where did you go I haven't heard from you in a while
Then oh, hey, there you are, like a lost sock, her odd little mate
You know, that odd-ball sock that's always missing
Even though you know you put it in your drawer with the other one
Or maybe you didn't, maybe it's down in the couch,
or maybe it's still in the dryer hanging out by itself
just happy to still be a sock with no holes in it.
We laugh about her finding me, we catch up on our lives
Then retreat back to ourselves, our own ways, our own times
Paired up together, stuck back in a drawer, waiting to be worn
By someone, heck anyone, who knows what a pair we are
Until one day she'll notice that I'm not there, I'm missing
And she'll spend her next moments looking under metaphorical beds
In dusty old corners, behind washing machines and hampers, noticeably aware
Sifting through storage boxes, even worn shoes, I know I just saw you,
Oh, wait there you are, one of my favorite socks, how do I keep losing you?
I know how life changes, I know you go through things
I know that life is challenging when stuffed inside its shoe
But we’re a pair, you and me, mismatched as we maybe
I still like knowing you're there, my odd little sock.

Jade Jaspers