visit from a friend

brief reprieve from the grinding friction of this upstream path. A friend. An old dear friend. A friend who lifts me up and knows me. Empathy and punishment from knowledge. He is the biggest man i know. He towers above me. No other does, and so he is my brother in spirit.
There is an ongoing mutual exchange of information at many levels. Deep thoughts not spoken are easily guessed as are quiet discomforts.
We are both prickly men at times, inspired at others and in general difficult.

 Like two lions we stalk the world,
coming together to snarl over choice meat,
to tell stories of the hunt.

When i feel alone and far away i will call across the grass plains
where is my kind?
He will roar back to me across the still night.
I am not alone.