Attending these poetry jams, has given me a new perspective on friendship and how difficult it can be for some others to make friends. I've met so many new fantastic people since opening up to poetry. So I decided to write a poem about how difficult it can be to make friends. The crowded room, a sea of unknown faces, Each is a world unseen, in separate, silent spaces. A smile I offer, a hesitant hello, A fleeting glance, and then they seem to go. A whispered word, a shared and awkward laugh, A fragile bridge built on a narrow path. But currents pull, and tides begin to turn, The bridge collapses, lessons left to learn. Perhaps a wall unseen, I built it high, Or fear of judgment lingers in my eye. The easy banter, the effortless connection, A secret language I can't seem to reckon. The longing stays, a quiet, constant hum, For someone near, loneliness feels numb. To share a thought, a joy, a silent tear, And banish the persistent, hollow fear. So I keep searching, with a hopeful plea, For kindred spirits who might welcome me. Though the paths are winding and the journey is slow, The wish for friendship continues to grow.