If you had a friend strong, simple, true, <br />Who knew your faults and who understood; <br />Who believed in the very best of you, <br />And who cared for you as a father would; <br />Who would stick by you to the very end, <br />Who would smile however the world might frown: <br />I'm sure you would try to please your friend, <br />You never would think to throw him down. <br /> <br />And supposing your friend was high and great, <br />And he lived in a palace rich and tall, <br />And sat like a King in shining state, <br />And his praise was loud on the lips of all; <br />Well then, when he turned to you alone, <br />And he singled you out from all the crowd, <br />And he called you up to his golden throne, <br />Oh, wouldn't you just be jolly proud? <br /> <br />If you had a friend like this, I say, <br />So sweet and tender, so strong and true, <br />You'd try to please him in every way, <br />You'd live at your bravest -- now, wouldn't you? <br />His worth would shine in the words you penned; <br />You'd shout his praises . . . yet now it's odd! <br />You tell me you haven't got such a friend; <br />You haven't? I wonder . . . What of God?<br /><br />Robert William Service<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/if-you-had-a-friend/
