My Friend Peace

I chased Peace out through the wilderness,
Through briar and bramble and thorn.
She, fleet of foot and agile;
While I lumbered tired and worn.

It was not always this way –
For Peace and for me;
Ever constant companions
Our days were lovely and carefree.

We would swim and float in the river
And lie on the sun-warmed sand,
Peace, the ever gentle friend,
Would reach and take my hand.

Her friendship knew no bounds;
Her faithfulness, strong and sure.
Her goodness never-failing;
Her kindness, gentle and pure.

We would play among the heather
And run laughing through the trees.
We would skip along the pathway
And watch the honeybees.

But Peace grew restless after a while,
As my days grew more busy.
She came to visit me less and less,
As I fretted, lost and dizzy.

I would call to her from my doorway
And wish for her to come.
I would wait and wait for hours,
But, alas, my soul grew numb.

But then one day in desperation,
I called out for my friend.
“Peace!” I cried both day and night.
“Please let this torment end!”

I opened my eyes and caught a glimpse
Of my old friend in the door.
I ran to her and grabbed her up.
We spun wildly and fell to the floor.

We laughed and hugged and laughed some more;
We cried joy-filled tears.
I had missed my good friend Peace so much.
I had worried moments into years.

I begged her never to leave again;
And she said that she would stay,
As long as I quit fretting
And wishing my life away.

July 6, 2010