THAT'S WHAT FRIENDS ARE FOR

“Keep smiling, keep shining,
Knowing you can always count on me,
For sure,
That’s what friends are for;
For good times and bad times,
I’ll be on your side forever more,
That’s what friends are for.”

Dionne Warwick

That’s What Friends Are For

She was severely depressed
She had lost her loving mate
Zookeepers were very concerned
They were worried about her fate

She now sat very glumly
She refused to eat or play
She had lost all zest for life
They fretted for her everyday

Tondalayo the female orang-utan
Was already forty-five years of age
When a tiny furry friend showed up
Who was both compassionate and sage

This friend cared not they didn’t look alike
Nor that they weren’t even of the same race
But this new friend truly brought her much solace
His loving companionship her loneliness soon replaced

Soon old Tondalayo was feeling much better
She and young T.K. have been together now awhile
These best friends cuddle play and comfort each other
And this is one animal story that truly makes me smile

This young stray orange tabby cat just showed up one afternoon
In this old grieving orang-utan’s enclosure in Panama City Beach 
Zoo World custodians soon named him T.K. – Tondalayo’s Kitty
And it still amazes me the many life lessons animals can truly teach

How many of us can really and truly claim
We do all we can for our sad or grieving friends
And some wonder why I love earth’s animals so much
To me, their amazing compassion – just never seems to end

That’s what friends are for;
For good times and for bad times,
This cat will be on her side forever more,
Why? Because that’s what friends are for.

©   2006 Ed Kostro

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