I Hear It Said
*****
Last night my friend-he says he is my friend-
Came in and questioned me. "Ihear it said
You have done this and that. I come to ask
Are these things true?" A glint was in his eye
Of small distrust. His words were crisp and hot.
He measured me with anger, and flung down
A little heap of facts had come to him.
"I hear it said you have done this and that."

***************
Suppose I have? And are you not my friend?
And are you not my friend enough to say,
"If it wre true, there would be reason in it.
And if I cannot know the how and why,
Still I can trust you, waiting for a word,
Or for no word, if no word ever come!"

***************
Is friendship just a thing of afternoons,
Of pleasuring one's friend and one's dear self-
Greed for sedate approval of his pace,
Suspicion if he take one little turn
Upon the road, one flight into the air,
And has not sought you for your Yea or Nay!

****************
No. Friendship is not so. I am my own.
And whosoever near my friend may draw
Unto my soul, there is a legend hung
Above a certain straight and narrow way
Says, "Dear my friend, ye may not enter here!"

*****************
I would the time has come-as it has not-
When men shall rise and say, "He is my friend.
He has done this? aand what is that to me!
Think you I have a check upon his head,
Or cast a guiding rein across his neck?
I am his friend. And for that cause I walk
Not overclose beside him, leaving still
Space for his silences, and space for mine."

~Barbara Young~

GOD BLESS YOU

I seek in prayerful words, dear friend,
My heart's true wish to send you,
That you may know that, far or near,
My loving thoughts attend you.

I cannot find a truer word,
Nor better to address you;
Nor song, nor poem have I heard
Is sweeter than God bless you!

God bless you! So I've wished you all
Of brightness life possesses;
For can there any joy at all
Be yours unless God blesses?

And so, "though all thy days
May shadows touch thee never--"
But this alone--God bless thee--
Then art thou safe forever.

~unknown~