bathroom conversations (rooftop conversations II). a poem.
You are worried about L’s relationship But you leave it be Because that’s how Adult you have to be
L2 has decided that once again She wants to find herself You tell her that you’ll go with her However far she wishes to go
You haven’t seen V in months You wonder how she’s doing Social media doesn’t seem to be enough And a simple boat journey feels like crossing an ocean
M is in hospital You heart races when you receive the text But she tells you not to worry You laugh – what else are you meant to do
S disappears in the August of your 21st year She goes to start a new life in New Zealand You are happy for her of course But you miss her more than you realise
You dream of parties It’s late and you are anxious And you’ve locked yourself in the bathroom And one by one They gently knock at the door
L stays with you Her arm around your shoulder She wipes away your tears You know she’ll always carry the tissues
L2 makes you laugh Makes you smile She tells you that she understands Without using words
V wraps you in a bone crushing hug That you never want to be free from You remember she is your safety net Always there to catch you
M, as if by magic Calls you from her hospital bed She tells you that your voice makes her feel better Her voice makes you feel better too
S video calls you You place it as if she is in the room with you Babe, she says, with a big confident grin You got this
You are now far calmer Because you know That these people have your back through the good and the bad No matter how far away they are
- P.W.Gates (2019)
