The Sweetest Thing...

It is a sweet thing, friendship, a dear balm,

A happy and auspicious bird of calm,

Which rides o'er life's ever tumultuous Ocean;

A God that broods o'er chaos in commotion;

A flower which fresh as Lapland roses are,

Lifts its bold head into the world's frore air,

And blooms most radiantly when others die,

Health, hope, and youth, and brief prosperity;

And with the light and odour of its bloom,

Shining within the dun eon and the tomb;

Whose coming is as light and music are 'Mid dissonance and gloom—a star

Which moves not 'mid the moving heavens alone— A smile

among dark frowns—a gentle tone

Among rude voices, a beloved light,

A solitude, a refuge, a delight.

                          -Percy Byshe Shelley

I feel like I've quoted this poem before, but for the life of me, cannot find the post.  I think of it whenever I think of my dear, east-coast friends.
I went to school in the city of Brotherly Love, and created more wonderful sisterly friendships than I can properly keep up with.
Then I moved back to my hometown, with all its personal history, joys, and flaws.
So, once or twice a year, I make a pilgrimage back to the city I became an adult in to maintain these long distance friendships that have become so important to me.
 This time, I was only able to document one of the friendships with my camera: my wonderful friend Audrey, and her sweet son, Samuel.