Oxpeckers and Egrets contest Prompt – Friendship – Pradnyesh

If I twirl in joyful spin
my friend too will enjoy brisk cool wind
without snickering in mock, pretend…

No feet to trip me
to laughter within

stun by triflings

begun
in past sorrows

their arrows
still piercing

where a heart usually appears
but anger pries opens a door
to deep cavern of insecurities

not explored

for jealousy enters
to hatred befriend.

Instead of encouragement and balloons
to lift up and soar.

Their darkness, their fears
their thoughts total blackness sum

shields them from a rising brilliant sun.

No, my pal will endeavor
to forever be
a buddy, counselor, a stalwart tree

while I’ll also purport to free
myself from inner animosities
away from she

who is closer than a brother in true loyalty.

Assisting one another as oxpeckers
and egrets
patrolling birds on backs
of large mammals like ostriches

picking tiny insects and parasites
from their host’s fur and feathers

whom you’d might expect
would be angered to attack.

Yet, in fact, in exchange for this cleaning,
these birds get lunch while gathered together.

Even as to removing debris from a hippo’s teeth
as friends to each other we aim to please…

Helping one another through life’s adversities
all-the-while avoiding pits of eternal negativity.Young People Ask
Should I join a Gang?
https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/library/r1/lp-e/all-publications/awake/awake-1991/june-8

ITH & SB