by Marc Gunn, December 4, 2004

I went out to see live music with a fan the other day. The situation turned out less than pleasing and left me questioning how I should interact with friends and fans.

How do we deal with it?
We stumble over sand dunes,
Lips parched for thirst.
You offer it in ‘beautiful' compliments.
A torrent of love.
It's like you point us to an oasis.
There, we caress away the starving mentality
And find peace
And pleasure.
“Is this not then love?” we ask.
Why, yes it is!
But it's not that blissfulness
That makes you want to
turn palm tree leaves
Into beds in the sand to fulfill our passion.
It's much deeper than that.
So how do you distinguish?
How do we take that torrential
downfall this side of paradise
And accept that it is friendship…
Just friendship
Yes. There's admiration.
We are gorgeous in your eyes.
We are love.
But we are NOT your lover.
Not like the mirage
That lifts your hopes up
Only to crush you when you realize
There is no substance.
We are an oasis,
But not the water to your lips.

How? Oh, how do you deal
With the flourishing oasis you create
With a kind word of fraternal lover.
I'd like to know, because
I want to be more like you.