Friendship is a wondrous thing

it binds man to man and surf to king,

and magically transcends both space and time,

it's not often found, so very rare,

that special friend that really cares,

so I'd like to tell you about a friend of mine,

I've known my friend for many years,

she's been with me through joy and tears

yet never have I ever seen her face,

just her photograph upon a screen

is all that I have ever seen,

of this, my friend from such a distant place,

We used to speak upon the phone

when I was sad and all alone,

and she'd assure me that things would get better,

she was the only light in my despair

a kindly voice that truly cared,

a friend indeed, though I had never met her,

She'd not let me phone, but she'd call me,

saying that from her end the calls were free,

though for international calls, I'm not so sure,

sometimes she'd get up early, or stay up late,

just to call and say, "how are you mate?"

you'd go a long, long way to find a friend like her,

She'd say, "One day, before long too long,

another love would come along",

and the sadness I felt then would all be gone,

and I'll confess I had my doubts

that she knew what she spoke about,

but time proved she was right, and I was wrong,

I met my wife in 2003

and my friend was overjoyed for me

that I had finally found my happiness,

and an honest joy, not just pretend

because she is not that kind of friend

she's the kind that makes a man feel blessed,

And blessed I am, I can't deny,

for I have a truly loving wife

who means the world to me and rules my heart,

I also have the best of friends,

the kind you hear of now and then

but usually are few and far apart,

Yes friendship is a wondrous thing

it binds man to man and surf to king,

and sometimes men and women such as us,

but not sexually or clandestine

but true friendship like hers and mine,

based on great affection and on trust,

Based on kindness and concern,

given freely and returned,

a friendship sadly most will never know,

I count my blessing that I do,

for I'm among the favoured few

to receive this friendship and to watch it grow,

Oh there's so much more that I could write

but believe me it would take all night,

to describe in detail a friendship such as this

and forgive me if I now refrain

from telling you my dear friends name,

but I'm confident that she'll know who she is,

She'll recall Banjo's book of poetry

and the gum-leaf that she sent to me,

the calendars and Golden Wattle flower,

and if she's reading this, may I remark

a Thanks that comes straight from the heart

for that very special friendship that is ours.

By S.E.Ralph

6th-12th-2012