Afternoon therapy
in the warmth of the garden
Not a comfy couch
not a therapist in sight
Yet a friendship formed
over years of collective madness
For a mad girl's love song
we can both laugh
out-loud
at the hysterical things
of our lives
(thanks Sylvia, you deserve a quote!)
An old pair of sodden shoes
lying there by the backdoor
Waiting, till you can't stand
to see them
any more
"the annoying shits!"
(again we laugh, at the ironic pain)
How old our shoes feel!
worn in and out
not even with that familiar "old sock feel"
that comfortable sweatshirt feeling
holding memories
worn till the shoulders dropped
no longer able to offer
support
(what paths we chose, already knowing the answers to come)
For the change of it
cannot be fixed
there is no golden ticket
to find a way home
No escape
or fantasy
reality bites on the arse of it
and hurts like hell
(it never freezes, you know!)
"I've pawned my soul so many times now"
Those words you uttered
stunned me to smile
laugh; tell you of a poetic time
that I would use it
to sell myself
once more
As I have, a thousand times over
prostituted my bed, tied linen around
my heart
and almost strangled the life
out of me
All because those old shoes, sweatshirt and that
ever present "pawn shop"
are so very real
to the both of us
We laughed at the madness
of the afternoon
our love
lives
where the fuck it will take us
next time
bring wine!
Author notes
For my friend Jo
I wish I could tell you tales of our nearly 20yrs of friendship but there just isn't enough time 
Written August 16th, 2005
In a list
What did you think
Comments
1 - 26 of 26
-
Loved it :-)
There is so much warmth in this, made me smile. What a sanctuary they are, friends.
XX
-
damn, how were yhou always this good.. looking back into your more early writes, i didn't expect them to be this great
mine are soooo awful 
oh how exciting.. i've got so much to read
-
You obviously share a rewarding friendship with Jo. It's like those old comfortable shoes that you cant find the heart to throw away. This reminded me of the line in the Janis Joplin song....."I'd sell all of my tomorrows for one single yesterday". Well done.
Sincerely,
Leo Long -
God, that made me cry Chilly, that one did
God, that's what's so strange about human nature ... we all go through it together don't we? That hit home to me ... damned audience is always going to find what relates to them in you work, huh 
-
When I read this, I think how wonderful to have a friend that knows you inside-out to spend time with comfortably, with no pretense and the laughter comes with reminiscing in spite of all you've been through. I felt this in this write and it reminded me of listening to my mother's sisters (five) when they got together. I was always mesmerized...I'm so glad I read this.
-
A sweet piece for your friend and description of your lives together. So many stories to share.
free -
excellent~
What a beautiful bond of friendship this is
Most of my friends have gotten married had kids and tho we still speak and wave hi its nothing like sitting down giggling and recalling memories of yesterdays I miss that and am so glad your bond is still growing strong as ever
I have missed ya sis and I got up some new ones come over when ya can
Loved this
Love you too
Your sis
Susan~~~
-
I do like this very much -- two old friends....and one can imagine the warmth of the sun..and the warmth of the comfort afforded by such a friendship...and the warming laughter floating overhead.
Very special...and well painted. -
sounds like you two had great times!
-
I can really feel the bond that you share with Jo through this work. Forget what Nik said - this is Gill's own brand of sappiness...lol. Nice...
Scott
-
I'd sit on my feet too if I came to yours.. lololol
and I'd laugh and giggle too
and then we'd talk of life, dance, dreams, art and all manner of life
and big hugs and kisses back to you two
-
Colletive madness..Yes I see the girls when they are together and they shrieklaugh and I think it is so nice that they seem like they lose everything that is irritating in life. Is like they throw off shoes and all those pretencing things. Stefi make our home like people do that when they are here. We have female friends and they come sometimes and make coffee and sit with feet underneath them like it is their home and say they are comfortable and we leave them at it and smile. It was hard for me to be used to at first, now I just grin when I know they say 'oh Niko you are such a darling' because it is their joke. I wish sometimes that it was possible for men to have such things. All men I see ( straight men) seem to get pissed and argue football or be disrespectful about women. I don't like that. But to be so right with someone, a friend, is what life good. Lucky my Stef is my best friend too.
Your poems are so clever, never sappy always with edginess. I like that. I cannot give applause because Stef already did but I give big kiss and hug instead. I ask on site if they may fix this problem, and Kevin say he would look at it. but clapclapclapclap 
-
then do it..
my friend Jo, lives 3 miles away.. she used to live 300 miles away.. but the distance is irrelevant.. whenever we meet it is pure therapy and joy
~GILL~xxx -
I don't even know where to begin. My arse has stopped hurting so much with the golden ticket of the voltarol. It's funny, my best friend since I was 4 was a lass- we have kept in loose touch over the years and I tracked her through friends re-united. It was as if not a day had gone, never mind 15 years- we did not stop laughing, and she saw said shoes (literally old walking boots, wet and muddy at the door) and said- are those really the same ones? So much had happened, yet nothing seemed to have happened if you see what I mean. Where had we been, where were we going- it didn't matter that much. As you say, it did not need wine.
The more times I rea dthis, the more I love it- everything from our socks to our soles (edit- soles? did I mean that? was it freudian? souls, man, souls- is in hock. And how we buy those snippets with bits of ourselves to turn into poems in which we sell on a little bit of ourselves when we share. I have no idea if thi sis what you meant, but it floated my boat. I just looked atmy trainers. They really are disreputable Oh , and thanks for sharing another piece of you here, now you shame me to go ring Susan, it has been a couple of years now.
Edited on Aug 16, 2:36 p.m. because 'braindead'. -
I felt every word. And I loved the sweet, smooth flow of this
-
ohh yeah
at least.. one.. maybe two.. and on a good day.. three.. hehehhe
thanks hun -
ahh thanks to all for the wonderful comments
-
yes yes
wine indeed
at least one bottle -
I enjoyed this read. S7 is just wonderful. Love the satire touch, you've brought back some fond memories. Makes me miss my best friend and the shenanigans we did
Enjoyed the read.
~Dee
-
Great
this is a well written piece good job. I can see the scene i have seen it before (i am a CNA). Great Job. -
APPRECIATIVE
wahoooo!! the best..type keep it up free spirited.. -
This was well done. I've been reading so much form poetry lately that it is nice to find a free-verse piece that holds my interest. I absolutely love the title! It draws you in right away. It would make a great story title as well. Good job, God bless and keep writing!
-
sociably correct
Lots of energy with a tasty ending -
Good vibe..Loved the sarcasm. Good write
-
Yeah
me and my friend Jo do sarcasm and irony well.. with or without booze.. so many thanks for the great comment
-
SO much sarcasm...I loved how you incorporated the vibe of your friends in with how life has been treating you...and your friends as well...in the end we're all taking on the same steps, just some seem bigger than others...life is old shoes and old friends and old sweats and slacks, and memories...truly a heart warming tale of not such a heart warming life...be well...
much love
chris
Adding your comment:
1 - 26 of 26
