restocking the friend shelf

i wake

up one morning, and it

occurs

to me

that many of my life long

friends

and lovers,

wives

and siblings

have either moved to Florida

or have died.

i look at my

phone.

dead, gone, old, dementia,

mad at me,

remarried,

destitute, cranky,

many with

addresses unknown.

i join a meet up group

to restock,

but after one hike in

the woods

with them, listening

to their

trials and tribulations,

their woes,

i realize that it's not so

bad

being alone.