Short poems about friendship in english

“HUG O’ WAR” BY SHEL SILVERSTEIN

From the beloved children’s poetry collection Where the Sidewalk Ends is Shel Silverstein’s “Hug O’ War.” An anthem for those who choose peace over violence, this kid-friendly poem evokes a sense of kind playfulness that captures the essence of any true childhood friendship. If you like the good-natured tone of this poem, the rest of the collection is sure to make you smile. 

 

“US TWO” BY A. A. MILNE

Another kid-friendly pick, the poem “Us Two” is written by A. A. Milne, most famous for authoring the original Winnie the Pooh books. Filled with imagination and childlike wonder, “Us Two” tells the story of two best friends searching for dragons and facing their fears together. 

 

“LOVE AND FRIENDSHIP” BY EMILY BRONTË

Best known for authoring Wuthering Heights, poet and novelist Emily Brontë makes a sharp observation of relationships in this poem. “Love and Friendship” uses images of two trees to contrast the sudden and often fleeting grips of romance with the constant, dependable bloom of a solid friendship. 

Friendship

By Henry David Thoreau

I think awhile of Love, and while I think,

Love is to me a world,

Sole meat and sweetest drink,

And close connecting link

'Tween heaven and earth.

I only know it is, not how or why,

My greatest happiness;

However hard I try,

Not if I were to die,

Can I explain.

I fain would ask my friend how it can be,

But when the time arrives,

Then Love is more lovely

Than anything to me,

And so I'm dumb.

For if the truth were known, Love cannot speak,

But only thinks and does;

Though surely out 'twill leak

Without the help of Greek,

Or any tongue.

A man may love the truth and practiSe it,

Beauty he may admire,

And goodness not omit,

As much as may befit

To reverence.

But only when these three together meet,

As they always incline,

And make one soul the seat,

And favourite retreat,

Of loveliness;

When under kindred shape, like loves and hates

And a kindred nature,

Proclaim us to be mates,

Exposed to equal fates

Eternally;

And each may other help, and service do,

Drawing Love's bands more tight,

Service he ne'er shall rue

While one and one make two,

And two are one;

In such case only doth man fully prove

Fully as man can do,

What power there is in Love

His inmost soul to move

Resistlessly.

Two sturdy oaks I mean, which side by side,

Withstand the winter's storm,

And spite of wind and tide,

Grow up the meadow's pride,

For both are strong.

Above they barely touch, but undermined

Down to their deepest source,

Admiring you shall find

Their roots are intertwined

Insep'rably.

One of the most famous poems about friendship, Henry David Thoreau's "Friendship" challenges some of our modern conception of friendship. We may think of friends as people that we have a good time with or people that we can vent to. Thoreau offers a vision of friendship as a source of strength that helps two people grow to their potential.

Find the full poem here.

“To my Excellent Lucasia, on our Friendship” by Katherine Philips

Katherine Philips is best known for her poems on female friendship. She wrote “To my Excellent Lucasia, on our Friendship” for Anne Owen, viscountess of Dungannon.

I did not live until this time

Crown’d my felicity,

When I could say without a crime,

I am not thine, but thee.

This carcass breath’d, and walkt, and slept,

So that the world believe’d

There was a soul the motions kept;

But they were all deceiv’d.

For as a watch by art is wound

To motion, such was mine:

But never had Orinda found

A soul till she found thine;

Which now inspires, cures and supplies,

And guides my darkened breast:

For thou art all that I can prize,

My joy, my life, my rest.

No bridegroom’s nor crown-conqueror’s mirth

To mine compar’d can be:

They have but pieces of the earth,

I’ve all the world in thee.

Then let our flames still light and shine,

And no false fear controul,

As innocent as our design,

Immortal as our soul.

“A Poison Tree” by William Blake

‘Christian Forbearance’ is the original title William Blake gave this poem. The speaker of the poem tells us the difference between how he is angry with his friend and with his enemy. It shows how we can easily tell our friends if we are offended while choose to harbor bad feelings against an enemy.

I was angry with my friend;

I told my wrath, my wrath did end.

I was angry with my foe:

I told it not, my wrath did grow.

And I waterd it in fears,

Night & morning with my tears:

And I sunned it with smiles,

And with soft deceitful wiles.

And it grew both day and night.

Till it bore an apple bright.

And my foe beheld it shine,

And he knew that it was mine.

And into my garden stole,

When the night had veild the pole;

In the morning glad I see;

My foe outstretched beneath the tree.

My friend when I think of you

My Friend when I think of you.

I think of all that we’ve been through.

All the times we argue and fight,

I know deep inside that it isn’t right.

I, then feel bad and alot of pain.

It feels like I’ve fallen from the sky like the rain.

I love you dear friend with all of my heart.

But now that you’re gone I’ve fallen apart.

I’m getting better as the days go by.

I wish sometimes this was all a big lie.

I pray to you every night.

It’s like you’re my fire, a burning light.

My dear friend, I miss you alot.

I still wonder why you were put in that spot.

I know you’re in a place much better than here.

Watching and helping me with all of my fear.

Our friendship my dear friend,

we will have to the end.

Friends til the end is what we will be.

Someday we’ll be together,

together you and me.

Your Kind of Friendship

It takes more than caring

To be a real friend;

The nature of friendship;

Requires a blend

Of warmest compassion

And love deep and true

To reach and to comfort

The way that you do.

Because I can see

That your kind of friendship

Is priceless to me.

 Portrait of a Friend

I can’t give solutions to all of life’s problems, doubts,

or fears. But I can listen to you, and together we will

search for answers.

I can’t change your past with all it’s heartache and pain,

nor the future with its untold stories.

But I can be there now when you need me to care.

I can’t keep your feet from stumbling.

I can only offer my hand that you may grasp it and not fall.

Your joys, triumphs, successes, and happiness are not mine;

Yet I can share in your laughter.

Your decisions in life are not mine to make, nor to judge;

I can only support you, encourage you,

and help you when you ask.

I can’t prevent you from falling away from friendship,

from your values, from me.

I can only pray for you,