I miss the days
when friendship was
an invitation to laugh
at everything
and nothing
At shadows that danced like brooms
At spinach that got stuck between
the teeth.
I miss the days when friendship
was a time to fly kites
in between bites
of hotdogs, maize,and simsim balls
A time to ride bicycles
And count the passing clouds
Creating our own musicals
On a stage made of grass.
I miss the days when friendship was
walking to church in long white
socks
Whistling at flowers, throwing
rocks.
Now, conversations are a patronizing
Drumming to the ears
Dreams have turned into sermons
Invitations have turned into a trick
To join a mastermind class.
"If you don't buy my book, you
don't love me!" They scream.
Even if the book doesn't speak to
you.
Keep your honesty aside
And enjoy the ride
Of self-help
Business for breakfast
Lectures for lunch
Tidbits of tips for tea
And all of this, they say, is to
make you grow.
And yet each time they call, you
shrink.
It's another condescending call
About your commitment, or lack of it
So many people are committed these
days.
Are we all lunatics?
Subscribe to this and get one free!
This offer lasts for a week!
Three steps to becoming great again!
And yet all I want
Are the three steps to
My friend's heart again.
It's not the years that have changed
us.
It's lazy to blame it on our age
It's preposterous to claim that life
happened.
Our friendship wasn't a thing that
just happened.
It was who we were.
....
By Beverley Nambozo Nsengiyunva,
April 2021
Kampala, Uganda.
