Is Friendship Necessary ?

T.A. Ramesh (India, 21/10/06)

Friendship is necessary,
if it is helpful in private
and useful in public life.
A person is befriended
not for fancy but for benefit;
A friend, though not beneficial,

At least should not be harmful.

It is better to have a good friend than
a bad friend, even for company, in the world;
Many companions may be available
but not a good friend in the world;
So, if one happens to have a good friend,
one’s life will be good in the world!
Faith is the mark of a friend,
but without which, it is foolish to have one!

A friend is not a relative, brother or cousin,
but all in one and more without blood relationship;
A natural friend is a brother,
but without any blood relationship in the world!
A friend is beyond all barriers of
castle, race, religion, language and nation!

Politicians, bureaucrats and business men are

for money and not for justice, love and truth;
Friendship of such selfish fellows are not
for human warmth but for mere material wealth;
By their lip service they
entice men and enrich themselves
at the cost of the public wealth!

Lawyers, doctors and engineers are all very friendly
as long as fees are well paid for all expenses!
Preachers, religionists and spiritualists are all spiritual divines
without human heart to save humanity,
Whose activities mesmerise men to attract friends
to fall in their net and get fooled for money!

Due to friendship both good and bad
deeds are done in the world;
But friendship of mature men fetches
intellectual pleasure and spiritual satisfaction for all!
To a friend only, one can confide and confess,
and get consolation and confidence from him
for life and work in the world;
Mutual reciprocation, responsibility and reliability
are the hall mark of real friendship
of such friends in the society.

But bats among friends enjoy the fruits of others labour
and fly away once the tree stops fetching fruits!
The friends, like the birds that fly
from place to place for food and comfort
have no risk and responsibility in life;
Those friends are the rolling stones
that gather no moss
for the development of mankind!
It is sooner the better
to avoid the friendship of such friends
than to feel sorry later;
For, it would be impossible even to shake off
the subtle knot of a mountain snake,
even if caught once unaware!

The fruits of friendship are inevitable to avoid,
and so, whether they are bitter or sweet,
have to be enjoyed or suffered to the last!
It is better to depend upon one’s nature
than the nature of friends to avoid rupture
in life later on in this world!

More than the acquaintance of some friends,
wise books are best friends to rely upon in life;
But, even if books fail one,
Nature is ever the most intimate Friend,
Philosopher and Guide in the world!

However, friendship of man or nation is the cause
behind the development and progress of man or nation
going on in the world yesterday, today and tomorrow;
For, only friendship can be a best team
that can achieve great wonders in the world
by cooperation and coordination in all walks of life!