Poem for a dear friend who is leaving.

[C.M.C.]

Hi everyone, I have a friend who's leaving for awhile. I wanted to get something for him, and thought that it's a good idea to write a poem for him. I really want this to be good, so give it an honest critique so I can make it good! What I'm going for in this poem is switching between Iambic and Trochaic each stanza. Each time I do both I drop a meter and do that. It goes from Pentameter to a single meter. Anyways, here it is!

For Mike
I tell the story fourteen chapters late.
We started off as being less than friends.
I knew him through my brother who adored
his calm composure produced by his love.

Love that grew till we were all but distant.
Great in structure, sturdy when storms came.
Teaching both in school and life as equals.
While our friendship furthered through the time spent.

The fifteenth chapter here at last.
The future being present day
The man had now been newly wed
She too was caring like the friend.

Now three years the friendship lasted.
Even though I soon was struggling
Faith we shared had soon fallen.
Vision black, I felt a hand pull.

He pulled me out of hell.
My habits, thoughts, and soul
were coming back to life.
But this all soon would end.

Months that followed after,
Time had seemed to quicken.
Chapter sixteen half done.
Though the end was nearing.

The man had gone.
he left the town.
But times we shared,
weren't soon lost.

It was not done.
We were still friends.
Though the man left.
Hearts weren't broken.

He taught.
He helped.
He cared.
He left.

Through all
endured.
Thank you,
Mike V.