Awards Day

I would give you Jack, six out of ten
You were polite, interesting and at times, even amusing
We were dealers in the day and lotus-eaters by night
We got ratted and plotted world domination together
You had a good heart and you could keep a secret
But I couldn't call you a friend
Because when I needed your help
You disappeared

But you Mary, maybe a creditable eight
Those nights when we discovered the tigers within
Breaking all the rules at the Velvet Room
For at least you hung about for a bit
And gave me some good advice about my bad habits
without sticking the knife in
But in the end, even you drifted off
Just like the rest

And as for you Bob, I'd say a three at best
Because you pretended to be a friend
While taking my place in the hierarchy
And as I descended into the gloom
You sucked me dust-dry
And stole my guitar and my rigger boots
Then when you were fully ensconced
You crossed every road to avoid me

But it's still good to see you all again
For we can emerge from such treachery
With skin thickened from the re-growth
And if I was ranking my own value as your friend to each of you
I'd be hard-pressed to award myself any points at all
For I too, put my own interests first
as I clawed my way back up,
and forgot about all of you, until today