camaraderie

our history in this harbor
a bridge across deep water
camaraderie carries us along
the majestic arc of time
and spans the distance
from me to you
built to last, our present, our past,
but painted with the petty patina
oxidized by years and slights
tears and fights
the tarnish of ten thousand days
which left unchecked
can rust and rend us
a little upkeep required to keep up
the infrastructure of us
polished with compassion
in a moment of communion
tiny tasks all it takes
to keep decay at bay