Away For So Long For My Step-Daughter

Away for so long

and now I’m back,

are they still my friends

or will they attack.

Before I left

I was really cool,

we ran together

and got by in school.

Sure there were others

worked and studied hard,

no smokes or drinks

they stayed on guard.

Who was wrong

and who was right,

all that mattered

was party out of sight.

Away I went

to another place,

to clean up my act

and find some space.

Well now I’m back

and I feel clean,

not all trashed out

and feeling mean.

Feeling alone and

wanting to fit in,

I miss old friends

resistance may be thin.

If there is one thing

I must discover,

it’s my self esteem

I need to recover.

I’ve grown a lot

with reflections of the past,

the lessons were hard

the knowledge will last.

It hurts to think

I may lose those friends,

but then real friends

are there till the end.

Through out a life

many people come and go,

there’s always so many

more good ones to know.

Do I go with the old

or should I seek out new,

I must take my time

and be sure of what I do.

I can hope for the best

or just wait and see,

whatever their choice

I must be true to me.

Friendship is valued

but real love is gold,

my family is behind me

and they love me I’m told.

Gary R. Cramer

June 12, 1987