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Henry David Thoreau - Friendship

I think awhile of Love, and while I think, 
Love is to me a world, 
Sole meat and sweetest drink, 
And close connecting link 
Tween heaven and earth. 
I only know it is, not how or why, 
My greatest happiness; 
However hard I try, 
Not if I were to die, 
Can I explain. 

I fain would ask my friend how it can be, 
But when the time arrives, 
Then Love is more lovely 
Than anything to me, 
And so I'm dumb. 

For if the truth were known, Love cannot speak, 
But only thinks and does; 
Though surely out 'twill leak 
Without the help of Greek, 
Or any tongue. 

A man may love the truth and practise it, 
Beauty he may admire, 
And goodness not omit, 
As much as may befit 
To reverence. 

But only when these three together meet, 
As they always incline, 
And make one soul the seat, 
And favorite retreat, 
Of loveliness; 

When under kindred shape, like loves and hates 
And a kindred nature, 
Proclaim us to be mates, 
Exposed to equal fates 
Eternally; 

And each may other help, and service do, 
Drawing Love's bands more tight, 
Service he ne'er shall rue 
While one and one make two, 
And two are one; 

In such case only doth man fully prove 
Fully as man can do, 
What power there is in Love 
His inmost soul to move 
Resistlessly. 
________________________________

Two sturdy oaks I mean, which side by side, 
Withstand the winter's storm, 
And spite of wind and tide, 
Grow up the meadow's pride, 
For both are strong 

Above they barely touch, but undermined 
Down to their deepest source, 
Admiring you shall find 
Their roots are intertwined 
Insep'rably.

Added: on November 2nd, 2005 at 12:34 PM | Viewed: 15749 times | Comments and analysis of Friendship by Henry David Thoreau Comments (6)


Friendship - Comments and Information

Poet: Henry David Thoreau
Poem: Friendship
Poem of the Day: Feb 14 2004

Comment 6 of 6, added on April 12th, 2007 at 2:26 PM.

Friends are a very big part of your life, and you shouldn't take them for granted. Because you never know, your friend could turn out to be the love of your life. So this has alot of meaning to me, but unfortunatelly it hasn't happened to me yet.

John from United States
Comment 5 of 6, added on March 22nd, 2007 at 12:37 PM.

I saw an old paintings of two friends, holding hands. I wonder how long it will stay intact. Its old but yet never fadding, I wish we remain the same.

VIMAL N C from India
Comment 4 of 6, added on November 2nd, 2005 at 12:34 PM.

This poem goes deeper than just a friendship as we know it. I think the reason it speaks so deeply about friendship is because friendship=love and love=friendship. Whether you are in a relationship with a close friend, or a significant other, this still is true. I like the poem because it paints a beautiful picture of what it means to truly love someone.

Kristi from United States

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