Who sticks closer than blood is friend

Seen have I friends that fish for selfish good, Friends that flatter, placate, put you to ease, Whose sweet words work as venom in veiled hood, And yet, their presence feels like pleasant breeze. Friends never found when one is in deep wood, Who desert when friend’s ship needs renewed lease. Then, there are friends like a pair of spare hands— Friends steady that back up in times of strain, In tricky turns of fate stick together, And stretch a helping hand, pleasure or pain, Whose harsh counsel feels smooth like a feather, Whose words pain, pierce like knife, but prove sane. Friends come in all shades from fair to grey band, But he that sticks closer than blood is friend. ___________________________________________ Sonnets | 05.03.2004| Poet’s note: An atypical sonnet with two sestets posing a premise and a counterpoint, ending with a couplet.