aware

way up in the hill country
where the water runs fresh
and the grass grows green
where the air is clean
and the black top runs dry
where friends find tunnels
for fire, and music, and family
her eyes sparkle like stars
like stars you can see
before you reach the smog line
and then comes the concrete
and the man-made jungles
the familiar rug and resentments
and the true love friendships
that were formed before this bond
that somehow feed the black hunger
that now glazes her just-hours-ago
starry eyes and i am aware
aware of the change in my new friend
aware of her sunken-heart smiles
that even she can't explain
and i am aware, so aware
of how happy i want her to be
how clean, and safe, and happy