1. A friend whom I do not hope companionship with forever
He suffers for my benefit and I ward off harm from him with my hand

2. Closer to my heart than my hearing, my sight
And my family, my money, and my child

3. I confide my troubles to him, an intimate without blame in his intimacy
His ink compensates for my shortcomings with help

4. I have not met him since we became friends, so when
We parted before my eyes, it was the parting of eternity