A Poet's Duet

                    ~~~~~For my friend Slyder~~~~

Separated by distance my heart skips a beat when he says hello.  We’ve never met, but he's captured my poetic heart... His poems hold a special place

there. Our friendship grew out of a comment to one of my poems.



She whispered hello, unassuming, undemanding... looking for nothing

more than an honest friend. She touched my life and my heart with her

writing. How could anyone not be moved by such beautiful sincerity and the

wonderful way she has with verse.



Skipping across the keyboard to think of his next new write. For

unlike myself, writing poems at the drop of a hat, his are constructed. Each layer added upon. I know he ponders over what he has written, lets it go a few days then in his ever methodical way, edits and edits. But the masterpieces he turns out, have some of the highest respect.



In contrast to what I have to work at, her words flow so freely onto

the page. Like sweet nectar poured into a glass, refreshing and

rejuvenating me with each line I read.



I hold his friendship high, as far as I can reach. But there has been

no limit. Our collaborations got some rave reviews. Two complete

opposites, but we share a love of poetry, this I cherish most.



Her works are pieces of gold, what meager skills I have are eclipsed by

what I see in her words. What I learn from her poetry is great, what I’ve

gained in her friendship is greater still.



His tales of his darker side show my lack of depth and understanding

within myself. Conflicts arise in reading his poems, often I have to walk

away - then to understand. We all have dark sides, which some of us tend to ignore. But he faces his head on, I admire him for that.



She has nurtured and restored my faith in friends by what she's shared,

never asking for more than I can give and encouraging me every step of

the way. Her words bring light back into the dimmed rooms I write from.