I met you when I was 12 years old

Scrappy and scared

Full of bravado

You were sweet and kind

With fluffy blond hair and big blue eyes

You looked like an renaissance angel

You were the equal

And exact opposite of me

Considerate, sensible

A senior citizen in a childs body

I loved you when I met you

You were light, bright

The first time I saw it

Something burgeoning

beneath the surface

A crackle in your composure

Gold Fireworks

in a black night sky

I thank 12 year old me everyday

For this gift that I gave myself

The gift of you

The gift of our friendship

The gift of your love

It still strikes me now

24 years later

Here we are choosing each other

But you

My dearest friend

Have travelled many roads

You have learnt many lessons

But you have yet to learn

How worthy you are

So I will continue to follow you

Where ever you go

Just so you know

You are perfect

But perfect is a weapon

a standard of success

(& yes you are that)

But I mean to say

That you are Perfect,

as in whole, intact,

Absolute.

You are pure unadulterated joy

You are solid ground

You are a working compass in treacherous forests

You are now, and you have always been

Worthy.