Legalities Poem by valerie Hartland

You dumped me so very legally
firmly closed the door
sent an email
so formally
amazing for someone who
when I first knew her
spoke little English
so polished, poised...so legally advised.
Stop your harassment
though you forgot the r in your
I smiled
tried to tell myself
it wasn't proper grammar
so it didn't matter
but a judge would not agree
would side with you...not me

You signed it with your title
forty years friends
now I cannot even call you by your name
bizarre, crazy..how did it come to this
and yet its real..no game
although your name that I have spoken tenderly
for so long my childhood friend
will remain in my mind and heart
indefinitely
While you use your title
given by degree
will you ever softly say my name
Valerie..remember me?
Perhaps you may
though this is real
your threats they are to you no game

But I'm your childhood friend who knows you
with whom you play pretend
do you ever for a moment think of me
remember ….
its hard to forget at fifty three
your childhood friend of over forty years ago
but perhaps its only me who thinks its so
You are not the first to think I'm mad
because I cannot just dump those I love
find it so easy as others seem to do
to let go
They say we learn as we grow
friendship is a two way thing
give and take
the code of conduct tells us so....
But I do not believe it is
one will always be the stronger
can walk away
ignore the heartbreaking plea
its just that until it happens
friends don't know

Don't know that while one weeps
the other will reply
with legal warning
ignore the sigh
to the once loved voice
on the telephone
will press disconnect
that's life
While the other to a dead end says
pleading please...it needn't end like this
can we not talk it through
I loved you so
I thought you knew
though it counts for nothing in a court of law
they would throw out my plea
and lock me up
mad. Of course poor thing but criminal..
throw away the key

you know you have the upper hand
call the shots
are in control
this grown up game that adults play
when ending a friendship
that even after a lifetime its the end
the rules say that only you can win
and get your way
friendship is not a two way thing at all
that's just something to make life look nice, what we say
part of the game of life...called lets pretend
If one wants out
the other has to fall
from that place of grace
of having in your life a place


She cries out in pain
pointless there is no gain
the only place where this will end
is very real and not a game at all
her name is called to take the stand
come into court she hears the call
when asked her plea replies
I have a question please your honour
of the petitioner
does she remember too when we were small
and does she ever weep for me at all …
Is it really such a crime
to miss a friend
to ask forgiveness ?
the jury's out
the Judge returns
verdict to pronounce
the law must be obeyed
and you must heed
the sentence passed is life
so I play the game
we do not even know each others name.