I saw you at just a glimpse, as I sped by

You were standing there with your wife on the sideline

You reminded me of a beaver 

With two big white teeth against tan skin

And you looked thin

You would have laughed at that back then

But I kept it to myself this time

I was just running by 

It was the race of harbor lights 

I was trotting among the pace group 1:35 

I yelled out your name and that of your wife

It still felt off, wrong, saying her name 

Instead of that of your former wife 

My best friend, who also loves to run

She’s a state away now with someone 

A new husband and new friends

But I saw her a few weeks ago 

And she’s pregnant 

There’s an unspoken pain 

She’s not at any of the local races anymore 

How could she stay?

After the race I thought about texting you

But figured you were probably still on the sideline back at mile 2 

Your phone number is still in my phone 

My old friend, I just want you to know

That you were always my friend too 

I know you were never much into running the races 

I know you’ve got your gremlins 

But don’t keep ‘em in cases 

Run the streets 

You’re safe in the current of runners 

There’s no secrets to keep 

Your new wife is lovely 

I was there when y’all exchanged vows

Four years ago now 

But I still think divorce is so ugly

It’s a curse word 

I know some would say I’m absurd 

But I don’t like the mess we’re all in 

No one ever talks about the friends 

There’s no one to play cards with 

I still run the Harbor Lights but I’m a pondless fish

Runners go on 

Challenging the clock 

My mind feels locked

In 7 years ago – that last Christmas the four of us were all together

I don’t know that dissolution makes anything better 

My husband and I are at the harbor

We wonder if we should have tried harder 

Were we lousy friends?

Too far from those in Song of Solomon

I’m sorry if we let you down

Your voice and the echoes of your friendship still resound 

As I run through the streets 

I hope you remember me 

Maybe you and your new wife will call 

Maybe running, or something, can heal us all

Or maybe there’s that old table where we can unfold our hearts 

And we can all get together and play cards 

Should I keep this all in my mind?

I just want to get you off the sidelines