“my best friend who”

[poem by aja

smith ’24]

My best friend who runs faster than wind and asks who wants to play tag who is lake days and laughs who is a fern leaf and a handwritten letter whose mind is filled with stories is tying up her Nike shoes who tells me in morse code our names who tells me in secret her innermost fears whose dirty cowboy boots are on the porch can’t wait to play mermaids sleeps little at sleepovers who used to sing loudly and collect erasers is gone is a butterfly on a sunny day is a bright pink and red sunset doesn’t swing at playgrounds anymore is finding a good book who talks to me only in dreams is her monster cookie recipe and handmade gifts who still makes me laugh and cry, laugh and cry is the wind running fast through my hair asking who wants to play tag who wants to play tag who?

[poem by moira harr ’27]

Maybe they are too old

And worn down to the soles

The color long faded

And a couple of holes

But I can’t bring myself

To just let them go

Because they have danced in rain

And marched through snow

They have traveled far

And they have stayed near

They have been with me

As I face my fear

They were worn while I laughed

And worn while I cried

While standing proud in the open

And in the dark as I hide

Sure they have rips

And sure they have tears

But these shoes hold memories

And are no worse for the wear