For Matthew Mundell

Years and years ago
So long ago
That all is coated with dust
We were friends.
The best of friends.
Until we tried being lovers.
And then
How predictably we fell
A
   P
  A
R
  T
And scattered like two autumn leaves
In a bitter wind.
I never hated you, not even when I confessed my love
The third time
And you walked away,
Only commenting on how
It hurt
YOU
Too much to continue.
It has been long since we stood at our impasse,
Me with my foolish, childish love
And you with your obvious pain
Disdain
I knew then that you wanted no more
Of my society.
But even so,
When we met on the streets
I was civil
And cordial
And asked after your health
And that of your family
Every chance I got.
For years I did this,
Moving past the pain of our
Failed love
And choosing to cherish instead the memory
Of your friendship.
Though it was a rare occasion that we should meet
I would greet you with a smile
And now that I have not seen you
For another several years
I hold you with the same regard.
But you
Oh, you.
Each time I make an effort
To contact you, to know you,
You are brusque
And short
And unfamiliar.
The years have not changed your visage,
Yet it seems they changed your heart.
I do not know what wrong
I may have done
You,
But the least you could do is
Smile
Back.
Pretend for but a moment
That
You
Knew
Me.