ƒR!?ND$ of Mine

“They aren't real.
You only know them
Through the click of a mouse
A few words on a screen
A GIF (pronounced “jiff”) or two.
They aren't what they seem:
Their names are jumbled letters and numbers
johnandsherlock221B
Just strangers
Hiding behind icons.”

“They aren't real.
They claim to be
Art students in London
Globetrotters from Paris
But how do you know
If they aren't marketers
Serial murderers
Or
Just as boring as you?”

“They aren't real.
What are long typed messages
about Tennyson
To true friendships?
What are sharing passions and futures
To real relationships?”

“They aren't real.
The forty-two letters they've sent you
Their stories
Their encouragement when you lose hope
Their belief in you
Nothing but lies
Lies
Lies.”

Small-town lights are blinding.
I stare and stare and wonder why
I'm so different
From these skip school kids,
These thin gin dreams.
I look to a world,
A world to find
Those who are
Like me.
And I found them,
Strangers that are
Friends of mine.