When I was a girl,
younger than ten, I think,
I had a friend –
imaginary
invisible
pretend –
they said.
She sat with me often
on the green wicker rocking chairs
of our front porch.
She rocked with me there
and listened to all my thoughts.
Once, a yellow butterfly
landed on her nose
and caused her eyes to cross,
and we laughed and laughed and laughed.
And, when we caught our breath,
she looked at me and said,
“The best belly laughs are the ones
we have together.”
I remember that moment like it was
yesterday,
yet, I cannot remember
the day she went away…
…maybe she never did,
maybe, just maybe,
she stayed.