One friend is needed
when you're going through things
with your man.
Another friend is needed
when you're going through things
with your mom.
Another will sit beside you in the bleachers
as you delight in your children
and their activities.
Another when you want to shop,
share, heal, hurt, joke, or just be.
One friend will say,
'Let's cry together,'
Another, 'Let's fight together,'
Another, 'Let's walk away together.'

One friend
will meet your spiritual need,
Another, your shoe fetish,
Another, your love for movies,
Another, will be with you in
your season of confusion,
Another, will be your clarifier,
Another, the wind beneath your wings.

But whatever their assignment in your life,
On whatever the occasion,
On whatever the day,
Or wherever you need them to meet you
with their gym shoes on and hair pulled back,
Or to hold you back
from making a complete fool of yourself ..
Those are your best friends.

It may all be wrapped up in one woman,
But for many, it's wrapped up in several..
One from 7th grade,
One from high school,
Several from the college years,
A couple from old jobs,
On some days your mother,
On some days your neighbor,
On others, your sisters,
And on some days, your daughters.