Richard
by Anne E Thompson

This is
My friend.
Listens
To me,
Laughs
With me,
At me.
Tells me
Secrets,
Hopes and
Worries.

This is
My friend.
He makes
Me laugh
And shout.
He is
Obstinate,
Opinionated,
Loud and
Clumsy.

This is
My friend.
The clock
In his
Brain
Stopped
When he
Was ten.
His body
Got old
Too quick.
Sometimes
His mouth
Dribbles.

This is
My friend.
People
Say things:
“How kind,”
‘You are
So nice,”
“That must
Be hard.”
They don’t
Understand,
He’s just
My friend.