We cannot count our friends, nor say <br />How many praise us day by day. <br /> Each one of us has friends that he <br /> Has yet to meet and really know, <br /> Who guard him, wheresoe'er they be, <br /> From harm and slander's cruel blow. <br />They help to light our path with cheer, <br />Although they pass as strangers here. <br /> <br />These friends, unseen, unheard, unknown, <br />Our lasting gratitude should own. <br /> They serve us in a thousand ways <br /> Where we perhaps should friendless be; <br /> They tell our worth and speak our praise <br /> And for their service ask no fee; <br />They choose to be our friends, although <br />We have not learned to call them so. <br /> <br />We cannot guess how large the debt <br />We owe to friends we have not met. <br /> We only know, from day to day, <br /> That we discover here and there <br /> How one has tried to smooth our way, <br /> And ease our heavy load of care, <br />Then passed along and left behind <br />His friendly gift for us to find.<br /><br />Edgar Albert Guest<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/the-unknown-friends/
