life long camaraderie

so many things shape what we become 
minute to large influences add up to one sum 

many individuals have touched our paths 
from the preachers who preached to our folks who gave baths 

and those parents must have shown us a lesson or two 
and our teachers often taught us the false and the true 

even neighbors who helped with a requisite loan 
or relatives we'd only met on the phone 

without any we'd be somehow different today 
if still present we're thankful for the roles that they play 

but it's hard to believe you've touched someone the same 
they may not have known you or even your name 

but believe that we're significant in this brief life 
we help one another through lessons and strife

there's hope and there's friendship with others who care 
we're never alone in these lives that we share 

so let 'fellowship' grow among women and men
and be blessed with gladness of 'camaraderie' again and again