Emotion is eternal while we feel it,
our vows of love and friendship were sincere,
but circumstances alter, don't conceal it,
and even truest friends may disappear.
I cast no blame in noting things that change,
our paths diverge with every choice we make;
The close may wander far; we rearrange
our plans, but there are roads I cannot take.
Although I've pined for those who went away,
in grasping life they left us all behind.
We too enrich our lives and soothe dismay
by letting loose the ties that we've entwined.
There often is a purpose for a friend,
but lacking one, suppose we let it end.
Author notes
All things with a beginning have an ending,
love and friendship included.
Let all who go, go peacefully.
I have never seen a broken trust restored, have you?
Remember two things:
Be kind to yourself and
Be kind to your friend
This sonnet is dedicated to Del Warren Livingston, friend and mentor, who died in September, 2005.
Written August 31st, 2005
In a list
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This is a beautiful and loving tribute to your friend, Margaret. Del offered me a page in his book, and I waited too long. Although I didn't know him, I know he was very much loved on AllPoetry. Your poem is a lovely reminder of his own inner beauty. Hugs, Patricia
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and even truest friends may not adhere.
What of: 'and even truest friends may not hold dear'?
It does not seem as sticky as the former image.
This is a really beautiful, universal sonnet worthy of anthologising almost anywhere. I truly admire how facile the process of sonneteering is for you, Margaret. Ron.
The language is modern, reasonable, plausible, lacks affectation. Wonderful.
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Love as adhesive - too sticky.
Thank you Ron - personal troubles and a philosophic nature are a natural source of sonnets.
It is good to have friends, thank you. 
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yes, I feel this in my more sanguine moments
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I have let one sibling go, who wanted to. If she really loves me, she will find her own way back. This sonnet was a great comfort when my friend and mentor died.
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I have always struggled with the letting go...this poem has made me realize that the peace can only come if I DO let go. Thank you for sharing this. I will read it again and again, it is so comforting. Peace to you.
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Thank you
I struggled long and hard, but only drove peace farther away when I did. When I accepted the new situation, life became much simpler and easier. I'm glad to share my experience for the comfort of anyone who reads. Thanks for adding me to your favorites.
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Friends do so often come and go,
touch deep, we wish to hoarde,
leave seeds to grow within the heart;
the harvest, we pay forward.
Nice to feel your smile from the heart out, this evening Margaret! 
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It's true, from a good friend, we learn how to be a friend, and all subsequent friendships are better. Love is not lost when it is freely given.
Thank you, Karen.
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Thank you Liz. Sometimes I forget the things I have written, even the things that I learned before I wrote them. There is one person who refused to go in peace, but she is gone anyway.
It reminds me of a quote:
Three things in human life are important. The first is to be kind. The second is to be kind. And the third is to be kind.
Henry James
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This is a very powerful sonnet, which truly did touch me even before I read the note in the author's box. It is true that all things in this life shall end at one time or another. Loosing a friend or loved one..no matter how we loose them is never an easy situation to face. Letting go in peace is the best way to let them go..but sometimes unfortunately there are things that sometimes get in the way of that.
Truly a beautiful sonnet.
LIZ -
Thank you Hugh. Del was a treasure and I appreciated him while he was with us. His suggestions were penetrating as you say, but always kindly given with good humour.
Blessings to you too, you are another such treasure.
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Dear Margaret,
Thankyou for reminding me of this excellent sonnet which, I confess (with the subsequent passage of over forty further Wyleian sonnets not to mention epics and other forms) I had forgotten. Please forgive me.
I find Del's comment especially poignant to read in the aftermath of his demise. His penetrating and suggestive criticism of our work was always welcome and is sorely missed.
I am going to try to applaud this sonnet again. It is a worthy piece.
Love and hugs, XXX Hugh. -
Dear Del, you have taken a road I am not ready to traverse. Godspeed and fond memories.
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Dear Hugh, thank you for your applause, invitation and thoughtful comment. I think that the pleasure of company and conversation is reason enough to maintain a friendship. We both know that friendships spring up whenever we are with people, but when we are separated by circumstances, some we maintain, and some of them wither away. One of the most painful experiences is trying to keep up with someone who wants to leave. I think the inherent respect that forms a friendship allows one to let it go.
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Dear Margaret,
This Sonnet is notable for its succinct and plainspoken utterance. I hardly need to comment on the perfection of the iambic pentameter or the alternate rhyming which, as always by your hand, is without flaw.
The final couplet is thought-provoking. Do we maintain friendships for a purpose? Do we end a friendship because it lacks or fails to serve a purpose? Hmmmm.
Thankyou for including this in the Wyleian Series as Number ninety! I guess it's time I took a break from ballads and politics and wrote another sonnet myself but I'm still working on a third (and final) pre-election 'dig' at the present government.
Applause, love and hugs, XXX Hugh.
Edited on Sep 01, 10:46 p.m. because ''. -
Naming the guy Ed was a silly requirement of the contest I took this out of. I see your point about having one person to show the reason for the statement. 
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Did you cave in to someone? Wasn't this called something else yesterday? It has Ed in the title right? I want Ed back!
Risking the ire of my (I think I qualify too.) FGM, the other title was more unique, it gave a specific to a generality...sort of a personification...while that doesn't hurt the amazing poem, it does lose that quaint, creative touch (the title I mean.)
I also want to echo Yem's comment...he's one right smart fella!
Edited on Sep 01, 2:44 p.m. because ''. -
Thank you Del, that is exactly my intent. I was working on it at the same time as you, but nothing is ever finished, is it? Your make/wake rhyme is great!
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Hello Margaret,
I appreciate the nudge to have a look at this one. I may seem a bit distant, myself, at times, but it is not for lack of interest, just a bit of diversity capturing much of my time, so to speak.
Here is an idea or two for the second stanza which you expressed some concern over:
"I cast no blame in seeing how things are,"
I cast no blame when seeing how things change
"that paths diverge among the streams of time."
as paths diverge with some choices we make;
They come and go, the close become the far,
the close becomes the far...we rearrange
"and life becomes a little less sublime."
but cannot calm the ripples in the wake.
My personal preference for "we have twined" would be "we've entwined" but that is just me, I suppose.
I like the "meat" of the content here, Margaret and I hope my suggestion doesn't take it too far off track from your intent.
Many Blessings and sincere kind regards,
Del s and 
s
Edited on Sep 01, 11:09 because ''. -
Oh yes, the struggle against reality.. and the inevitable! We all do it at some time and pay the price, don't we?
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Thanks Gennelle! The loss of a relationship always causes some grief, even when we don't resist it. We have to let go of our hopes for it, and we lose not only the person's companionship, but a part of ourselves that was unique with that person. I've thought about this a lot! with so many relocations, the situational friendships ended. The more we immerse ourselves in others, the more enjoyment we have, and the more we lose when it ends. Fighting reality is painful.
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Wow, Margaret! This is a gem.. I have to ditto Yem, I can't say it better. It does have a wistful, bittersweet mood to it, and so beautifully crafted of course.
~G
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Shoot! Yem always gets here before me. I was gonna say too, 'I wonder if anyone realizes just how good this is?' Uh me! Me me me. This is so AH the words chosen with such care for their meaning and feeling. Just OH my new Merry favorite this is. Really touched me deeply. I hate letting go of old friends but it happens and this just shows the main reasons why. I could never say it better myself if I babbled for hours so YEAH this is most excellent and touching
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Excellent...
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This piece has a melancholic distant feel to it. Almost day dreamy actually. Not that that's bad. It's nice and it's soft. But ambigious as well, leaves me with questions, I guess. At any rate, it has decent flow and meter, and the rest is just nosey-ness on my part. LMAO ^^-^^
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This poem feels very well-crafted to me. It was very fluid and I thought the images and word choice were excellent. (Sonnets reign supreme!)
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wow
easy to read
not too short
and not too long
its great!!
i love your poems!
i love this especially
much luv,
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excellent
wow! friendships can be very difficult to maintain.. good luck..
this piece is fantastic.. good luck in everything```Linda`` -
Dear Yem, don't show me your butt, and I won't kick it.
I can't count my defunct friendships. Ed is all the people whom I remember fondly but never call.
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Why do I feel like crying right now? You've hit something...hopefully not something I need in there...but seriously, this, the tone and the truth of it just haunts me. I wonder if anyone realizes just how good this is? I'll let others talk about meterifics and iambic dipolarites I'm talking how this sucker reads and what it admits.
Obviously you've been there, so have I...and those last lines, man, they are so damned depressingly good...I mean, it's so much more powerful than their words...it's just truth speaking...and if anyone remembers an old article I wrote...I prefer lies.
I bow to you...please don't kick me.
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Thanks Lyrical.
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I think your author's comment makes a poem all of it's own Margaret. Wow, just awesome. Of course, your sonnet is fantastic. Your author's comment just spoke to me. Well done lady and good luck in the contest.
~Lyrical
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This is good. You are good !! And funny.
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Everyone has an opinion, ours are different right now. I'll think about whether this is really a question, and change the punctuation accordingly.
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A non piper canst play a tune so how can i comment?
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Hi Ridgeback, thanks for applause. The last line could be a suggestion, that is why I ended with a full stop.
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sweet
the question at the end ? great enigma. Like this a lot -
I agree and like the message very much. Many times friendships simply cease to add goodness or fade into the distance. Letting go and doing so peacefully, with good wishes, benefits all concerned. The couplet is very clean and final.
Good insights and skillfully written form as always.
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