

Friend
FRIEND
Sterling character, full of grace,
A Ray of sunshine, smiling face.
Good thoughts of him invade my mind
As I know friendship, gentle, kind;
One who asks nothing in compensation
For precious time in conversation.
No passion-battles to darken talks;
No touching hands to ruin our walks;
No thoughts of sin to turn my head;
No secret whispers of things long dead;
No expectation now of “recompense”;
No breach of faith and common sense.
Forever grateful, I stay the ground:
Friendship like this is ever bound
God-blessed, pure, for time eternal.
Sterling character and smiling face—
This Ray of sunshine, full of grace.
—Lois Barrett ‘91