The Prize

I often wonder
what happened to
all the people
I once knew
do you find
this vexes you?
as the figures
drift through your life
some bring joy
some bring strife
some stay with you
through the years
some simply disappear
lessons learned
in time it seems
conjure up
many themes
darkness, laughter,bitter tears
all just symptoms
of your fears
but in the end
it seems your peers
help you out
through the years
sometimes we are
slow to realize
friendship is
the real prize