Mirror Opposites - Ian Lilburne

He is my friend
But I’ve never known if
He likes or respects me
His hospitality says so
But I’ve never been sure
I like and respect him
Despite his English refusal
To show any emotion

There’s an odd bond between us
A marriage of mirror opposites
Reflections reversed
Both observers
Outside the conventions
And similarly dismissive
Of their expectations
But from opposite angles
Me the high romantic
Ever hopeful of saying something
Worth waiting for
He the arch realist
Diligently critical
Dismissive of his own talent
Me wanting to live the creative life
He preferring to live vicariously
In the reflected glory of a creativity
He fully appreciates
But will not emulate
Me optimistic of emulation
Though often thwarted by
A debilitating diffidence
He unable to suspend
A critical disbelief
Neither of us able to cross over