Earlier today, I had my attention drawn again to The Prelude by Wordsworth. This was a great favourite of an old friend, who encouraged a group of us to read it some years ago. In Book VI (written 1805),Wordsworth refers to his friendship with Coleridge.
‘There is no grief, no sorrow, no despair,
No languor, no dejection, no dismay,
No absence scarcely can there be, for those
Who love as we do.’
A close friendship endures. Death of a close friend does not stop them living on in our thoughts. We are still aware of what they would think about events, ideas, thoughts. In our minds we still share memories.
Friendship
Life is nothing without friendship.
A listening ear can be a lifeline,
an anchor and a means of hope.
Without friendship, life is diminished
desiccated. When found, that special
relationship restores, inspires.
Holding another’s life in mind with care
and understanding, makes for
a strong friendship, valued and rare.
Life's a Beach 