I have been ruminating
On the idea of personal pantheons

The people that we relied on
Who helped us
When we didn’t have anything
Who advised us
When we entirely fucked up
Who loved us
When we were at our worst

My first was an amputee with a huge laugh
Second, another amputee with a sharp tongue
From there, it was opinionated women
And men who loved the theater
Followed by motorcycle riders
Bartenders
Drunks
Thieves
And liars

They were not gods
They were far from perfect
They were not loved by everyone
And they were not always my favorites either

But they remain where I placed them
In my personal pantheon
I remember the lessons they taught me
The wisdom they shared
The love they gave me
And that I gave them

They remain the ones I whisper to
In the darkest hours of the night