To Friendships Lost

[Sally]

To Friendships Lost

By Sally Michelle Jackson

There are so many facts that we know are true

Like how I am always me and you are always you

But there are things that I have learned as we have grown

And the time is coming to tell you what I have so long known

I hope you will forgive me for waiting so long

But the people I have told have taken it wrong

You are my friend and one I so want to keep

The price of being true to myself is so steep

I know that the dynamics of us has to change

I hope that you can see just me not so strange

Losing seems to be attached to my transition

And I hate that this puts you in a hard position

But if you find that this is all too hard to take

And you don’t think you can stay for my sake

Then tell me good-bye and just walk away

I promise I won’t ask or beg you to stay

For friendships are made and sometimes they fade

I will not do anything to diminish the memories made

I will not blame you for not knowing what to do

You are so lucky for having always been you

I have this problem that goes against society’s view

I seem to be accepted only when to myself untrue

So if you can’t manage and leave I’ll hold no grudge

I will continue on my journey a lonely path to trudge

But I am so resilient and there are more friends to be found

I must just remember not to feel sad and to look all around

So now as I travel all alone I will hold my head high

Because there are still birds and rainbows in the sky

Along the way there will be troubles and joys

That face all of us mismatched girls and boys

In the end we don’t rally ask that much

We are just people so treat us as such

I never meant to hurt you and I know it wasn’t your plan

But this is so hard to understand no one without it truly can

Maybe in time you will learn to accept

And when you do I will forgive and forget

All of the things that you first said in shock

To return to our friendship as solid as a rock

I will travel my path for a time as one but not alone

For I have new friends and a place I can call home

Do not every feel sorry or bad

There is no need for us to be sad

Society did nothing to prepare us for this

It is just something we all seemed to miss

So I have a long and lonely journey ahead

And all of our final good-byes have been said

The truth of the matter is I will not change alone

You will feel different without leaving your home

I will love you as I always have my friend

I hope that you will love me again in the end

Someday we will meet again with no need to fight

And we will be friends and once more all will be right

Even with the possibility of losing lifelong friends, I hold to the hope that they might miss me and come back again.

Love ya,

Sally

[Guest Naomi Stardust]

...wish things like that didn't happen...

especially to such sweet people...

but there is a thread of optimism in the poem, and here's another:

think about all the friends you've gained!

so many people you would never know if you didn't have the courage to become yourself!

hope you feel better

love ya

Naomi

[Guest Elizabeth K]

This was one of the best - put it up front in your book.

Lizzt

[Guest ~Brenda~]

Excellent Sally,

To be true to yourself, at times means losing those that we care about the most because they cannot understand you now. You are going through a very diffcult period right now in your journey. Take heart, my sweet, things will get better soon! As you continue your transition, more and more people will recognize you for who you are. Yes, friendships do come and go for one reason or another, but some do come back becuase of the fundamental bond that was always there.

Your best poem so far.

I love you Sally,

Brenda

[Guest Donna Jean]

Excellent Sally,

Your best poem so far.

I love you Sally,

Brenda

Awwwww...Sally...that made me sad/happy......

I, too, wonder what is going to happen to some of my friends when I totally out myself....

But...I am gaining new, wonderful friends .....

And I hope to keep as many of the old as I possibly can...

Thank you, Sweetheart!

Donna Jean

[Guest darlene lynn]

It's sad but I think we all have been affected by this very thing. But once again you've hit the nail on the head. All we can do is love them and pray they will come back

Darlene Lynnette

[Guest Evan_J]

I L O V E I T .

[gennee]

Sally, I was thinking about this subject a couple of hours ago. Many of us have wondered why we're the way we are. We may have lost friends, family, jobs, and possessions. I wondered why I discovered my transgenderism only four years in my mid fifties?

If I hadn't chosen to be true to myself, I never would have met you and the many wonderful people on this forum. Yes, you may have lost friends but in the process you have gained new ones. I see it as me discovering a family I never knew I had. I can say that I've never been happier.

This is a great poem sally Just remember that you have friends and people who love and care for you.

Gennee