A friend

• Adriana Krasniansky, Grade 6
• Poetry
• 2004

A friend should be more than a companion.
A friend should care about what grade you got,
What problems you have,
Or even who you might like.

They should come over for your birthday
And be there when you have to baby-sit and have absolutely no one to talk to.

A friend should call you
whenever they know their help is needed.

A friend should give a shoulder to cry on,
No matter how soggy their shirt may get.

A friend should stand by you when other insult you for who-knows-what
And at least try to defend you,
Not just watch from the sidelines.

A friend should care.


A friend won’t insult you no matter what.
A friend won’t tell you
“Your flowers look like foot fungus.”

A friend won’t announce to the whole world
That your fly’s open
Or that your deodorant doesn’t work.

A friend won’t laugh at you if you sleepwalk,
sleep-talk , or worse.

A friend won’t talk behind your back for whatever reason.
A friend won’t say that you are a wannabe,
smart-aleck, or a teacher’s pet.

A friend just won’t.


A friend will make you feel loved.
A friend will tell you “Good job!” on your math test,
Even if you got a sixty-five

A friend will congratulate you on winning the art contest,
even if that was their dream.

A friend will buy you the CD you desired for Christmas,
Although it cost all their money.

A friend will clap for you when you win the spelling bee,
Even if they studied for it three days straight.


Even if they’re having an absolutely horrid day,
A friend will smile.

They will, just for you.



Friends do make mistakes,
But they will come beg for forgiveness.

Friends do want to be popular, but if it means losing you,
They’ll stop.

Friends do want to be your very best friend,
But they’ll settle for just being your friend,
Maybe one of many.

Maybe all friends don’t do this,
But mine do.
They’re all I could ask for.

Thank you friends, for all you do.