WHAT IS A FRIEND,
by C. Raymond Beran

What is a friend? I will tell you.
It is a person with whom you dare
to be yourself. Your soul can be naked
with him. He seems to ask of you
to put on nothing, only to be what you
are. He does not want you to be
better or worse. When you are with
him, you feel as a prisoner feels
who has been declared innocent. You
do not have to be on your guard.
You can say what you think, so long as it
is genuinely you. He understands
those contradictions in your nature that
lead others to misjudge you.
With him you breathe freely. You can
avow you little vanities and envies
and hates and vicious sparks, your meanesses
and absurdities and, in opening
them up to him, they are lost, dissolved on
the white ocean of his loyalty.

He understands. You do not have to be
careful. You can abuse him,
neglect him, tolerate him. Best of all,
you can keep still with him. It
makes no matter. He likes you--he is
like a fire that purges to the bone.
He understands. He understands.
You can weep with him, sin with him,
laugh with him, pray with him.
Through it all--and underneath--he sees,
knows and loves you. A friend?
What is a friend? Just one, I repeat,
with whom you dare to be yourself.

(In Memory of M.H. who died 11/28/08)