Where is Your Friend ?

A Little Story 

Where is your friend 

Do you know that 

She needs you 

?

Do you know

It’s not the truth

He bent it

Then she bent it 

Intentionally 

Just for you 

A gift for her best mate-cuz

Wrapped tightly in lies 

Calculated deceit 

She knows 

And you know

You’ll do anything 

For her

And so she 

And so they

Together 

Got you 

To call 

And get through

Years of connection 

This girl is your blood-blud 

You’ve got her back:

Trudging through mud

The emotional gruel 

The highs

And 

The lows

Been that way

Since school

You two are tight

The ups 

And 

The downs

Beyond all the 

Stress

And 

Heartaches 

Of life 

This girl 

Is your blood-blud

You wouldn’t think twice 

Although 

She’s not the same

That’s plain 

To see

Where is the girl 

Who would laugh

Play

And frolic 

Remarkably 

Where is your friend 

The kind-hearted girl 

Your sister 

Since time

Who spoke of herself 

Not in relation to him 

The dreams that she had

The plans that you made

Together as one 

Way back 

In the day 

How ill-placed those dreams

In subserving to him

How long-gone those dreams 

The lights 

That he’s dimmed 

When was the last time 

She called just to chat

Speaking only of herself 

Not speaking of him 

Or her

Or her

Or her

The ex-wives 

And the kids 

Or her

Or her

Or her

The ex-wives 

And his mother 

The ones she resents 

“Can’t stand the little shits”

‘Could do without them’

‘They can all go to hell’

Where is your friend

?

Is she there

?

Can you tell

?

Where is your friend 

The girl with the sass 

Straight-up 

Hollering

And shaking some ass 

Laughing about 

Life

Music

Dance

?

Now just a bitch 

Chattin’ non-stop

Nasty bitchin’

About women

Paranoia

Of the past

And

Those ‘little bastards’

Now boring 

No laughs 

Conversation is dull 

Same-old – Same-old 

Chattin’ shit

Skit

Why is her softness

Replaced now with grit
?

*

Where is your friend 

In real life

Real time

Before the pandemic 

Already inside

Bolted doors

Closed curtains

Two hundred miles away 

Secured 

Or enslaved

Day by day

?

The place

Where she stays 

Not coming 

Out

No time 

For you

No reason 

To 

Play

When last 

Did you see her

Alone

Not with him

In front of your eyes 

To observe 

How she feels 

When last

Did you 

Look

Listen 

And 

Check

Those gaslights 

Are real 

And they have 

An effect 

Can’t be seen

Can be hidden 

Cloaked on the gram

Can be edited 

Easily filtered 

Behind

Smartphones

And spam 

Where is your friend 

The one 

With the dreams 

Hidden behind images

Those gaslight screens 

?

Where is your friend 

Have you looked 

Upon her lately 

You haven’t

?

You should

Forgive my abruptness 

I don’t mean to 

Be rude

But a few years 

Is no joke 

The abuse as it grows

Those gaslights 

They gnaw 

Tell me 

Does she seem 

Angry

Obtuse

Bitter

Morose

?

When you call-in 

To chat

Not at her home

When you call

For a natter

Together

On the phone

?

Where is your friend 

Has she stayed with you lately 

No?

Not for years 

Please go to her quietly 

His fraud’s – not commitment 

All-in on the joke

But your friend

She’s naive

Terrified 

And broke

?

A sinister game

The rules 

Well prepared 

*

Where is your friend 

What happened to her life

?

Standing still

As he talks 

A silent 

Obedient 

And 

Broken

Fourth wife 

*

*

Where was your friend 

When she asked you to call

Make the phone calls to me

That make 

You

Look small

Taking advantage 

Such friendship

Your 

Good natured way

Where was your friend 

Setting 

You

Up 

Today 

?

Where is your friend 

She’s there 

God 

She needs you 

Where is your friend 

She’s there 

Please believe me 

Where is your friend

Do you know

That she needs you

?

Where is your friend

When she tells you

‘Sorry can’t’

‘We don’t like to go out’

‘Prefer to stay in’

Dress up

Take a trip 

‘A treat twice a year’ 

Showing face to her friends

The fallacy of him 

False hair

False lips

False breasts

False smiles

As false as he likes 

Always

The same

Same-same

With the body

His body

Not hers 

His matrimonial right

Your friend 

Angry wife

Stereotypical 

Gaslight 

Where is your friend 

The pawn in 

His game

He’s older 

Is ageing – almost fifty 

And shamed: it is true

He is hiding 

Behind 

Vulnerable women 

Manipulating 

Her

to 

Manipulate 

You

*

*

Phone calls

As they came 

Twenty four hours 

Between each

It’s obvious

The calling

It’s sad

And distorted 

‘I work with the police’

The words

Your words

All recorded

Do you realise the crime

? 

When you claim ‘for the police’

?

Do you realise it’s fraud 

?

A breach of my peace 

?

The numbers can show

The police: ‘here’s what to do’

Do you realise the fool 

They have made 

Out of you

?

Please girl don’t you do it

The criminal offence

And I really don’t sweat it 

The bullshit – pretence 

Phone calls 

That you made

On behalf 

Of your friend 

Obligated to report it 

Because that’s what we do

In conversation – the movement 

Not a bun fight 

Not the playground

Not school

The crime is all yours

A gift from your friend

The woman you love

Where is your friend 

?

*
*

Those gaslights are real 

They build

Grow and gather 

Women hurting women 

?

For him

?

What’s the matter 

?

You know girl

I get it

YOUR friendship has spice

That queen is your best mate – 

I got one myself 

That loyalty is fierce 

‘She’s a sister to me – My wifey for life!’

One woman to another

I can see how you got here

An easy diversion

As a matter of fact

But it’s all in the behaviour 

The way 

That you step-up 

By taking 

A step-back

Go get your home girl

Time to change tact 

Stop calling me

Aiming for my back 

I’m doing my thing 

There’s no need to care 

About me 

Or my sass 

My unparalleled 

Flare 

I’m a grown-ass woman

I’m smart

Best believe 

I’m on it 

I’m savvy 

Girl

I got them streets 

A real strong woman

Hardcore

Single-mamma

Not intimidated 

Not scared

By your 

Little telephone

Drama

*

But your girl

Girl, 

SHE

NEEDS YOU 

It’s cause for despair   

Almost too late

Damaged 

Beyond repair 

Your friend

Barely there 

Trapped standing 

No blame

Captured 

Behind him 

A prisoner 

In frames 

Where is your friend

Go get her there

Not on the ‘gram man 

Not via Zoom

Face

To

Face

With your girl

Just chillin’ 

Together

No him

Together 

You two 

Where is your friend

?

She needs you right there

Those gaslights are real 

And

He 

Has 

Her 

Held

Scared 

Where is your friend 

She’s there 

God 

She needs you 

Where is your friend 

Your gangsta 

Your boo 

Please hear me

SHE NEEDS YOU 

I pray

That this gets through

Where is your friend 

The reason 

I ask you 

*
*

Where is your friend

?

Now you know

That I got you

No need to panic

But no time to spare

Go get your friend

And girl

You 

Take care

*
*