A Friend, A Rose

I have been blessed to have met you, my undercover sister.

I say that with love, because you’ve had my back, when the wolves came out.

And although I never asked, you felt compelled to step in

And for that, you have me forever as a sister and a friend

May God bless you time and time again.

I know today is my last here,

Although it’s bittersweet,

I pray you taste the sweetness in these words before I officially leave

You’re a beautiful rose in a thistle covered swamp

Your soul is the fragrance of loyalty and love

Rare to find in a friend, vulnerable at times

For roses get picked apart, by wolves playing this cliche rhyme

“They love me, they love me not”

An unreliable test method of affection, something they long

But never keep, because they don’t reciprocate what they seek

Your loyalty is like the velvet petals of that rose,

Lusted after but dried out in betrayals

I pray for your protection, may you learn to use your thorns

Sometimes, you must dig your thorns into another’s side

And as your friend, I will protect you, even after life

You’ve been unaware of the impact of your love,

Your trust freely given, and concealed in my vault

Don’t hesitate to reach out to me, I’ll be there in a heartbeat

Wielding my double edged sword and bible to deflect your enemies

You’ve been my escape from this volcanic cavern

Sailing into the eye of the storm with you as my compass

Navigating me to shorelines hidden in fog,

You’ve helped me reach the crow’s nest on this war ship

And now at the highest point I can freely worship our God

I am forever grateful for you my friend,

I will miss the scent of love when I move from this home

May we meet sooner than we think, and may we plant roses

In areas of need