FRIENDSHIP
And a youth said, 'Speak to us of Friendship.'
Your friend is your needs answered.
He is your field which you sow with love and reap with thanksgiving.
And he is your board and your fireside.
For you come to him with your hunger, and you seek him for peace.
When your friend speaks his mind you fear not the 'nay' in your own mind, nor do you withhold the 'ay.'
And when he is silent your heart ceases not to listen to his heart;
For without words, in friendship, all thoughts, all desires, all expectations are born and shared, with joy that is unacclaimed.
When you part from your friend, you grieve not;
For that which you love most in him may be clearer in his absence, as the mountain to the climber is clearer from the plain.
And let there be no purpose in friendship save the deepening of the spirit.
For love that seeks aught but the disclosure of its own mystery is not love but a net cast forth: and only the unprofitable is caught.
And let your best be for your friend.
If he must know the ebb of your tide, let him know its flood also.
For what is your friend that you should seek him with hours to kill?
Seek him always with hours to live.
For it is his to fill your need, but not your emptiness.
And in the sweetness of friendship let there be laughter, and sharing of pleasures.
For in the dew of little things the heart finds its morning and is refreshed.
Analysis/ Review of the poem.
Let look into the analysis of the poem.
Let look into the analysis of the poem.
A beautiful and interesting poem written by Kahlil Gibran about friendship. This is well written narrative poem penned downed in nineteen stanza with no rhyme scheme. The theme of the poem solely centered on friendship, the beauty and joy of having a genuine friendship. The poet pictured what friendship is all about, the impact, the value, the communication, the benefits, love and bond.
The poem is self explanatory and simply to understand. The poet started with the line “And a youth said, 'Speak to us of Friendship” which the rest of the lines or poem is addressing to question and it reflect the poet’s opinions about friendship and everything friendship should represent in the live of the youths. The poet did justice in indulging/enlightening the youths on friendship and who to have as friend and how to be a friend.
I love the line where the poet made it clear to it audience or reader “And let your best be for your friend” in stanza twelve. This talked our youths should keep their intent and motive sincere and honest in their friendship or while making friends. Showing us that true friendship is selfless, with no ultra motive or hidden agenda. It should be pure and full with care for one and another.
Also, the poet made it clear that Friendship is about openness and acceptance of one’s personality. Nothing should be hidden. It’s is meeting each other needs and seeing each other’s success not downfall. It is about being available and of great assistance to one another. It is about wishing and thinking well and good for one another. Friendship should be filled with joy and laughter which strengthens our hearts during hard times. So, friends should know each other’s heart/intent and behavior. This is a great message to the youth who wants to understand the meaning of friendship and what it’s stand for.
Figures of speech/ Poetic devices.
Simile: the use of “like” or “as” to compare two things that share similar characteristics or for comparison. It is seen in stanza ten “For that which you love most in him may be clearer in his absence, as the mountain to the climber is clearer from the plain”. Here the poet try to explain clearly the how the value of friendship or friends is felt in their absence. The significance or what you love about your friends is felt deeply in their absence.
The poet adopted a figure of speech called Rhetorical questions in stanza fifteen.
“For what is your friend that you should seek him with hours to kill?
“For what is your friend that you should seek him with hours to kill?
Personification was used in stanza nineteen, making the heart, look like a human being.
“For in the dew of little things the heart finds its morning and is refreshed”
“For in the dew of little things the heart finds its morning and is refreshed”