What Is A Friend? by Kit McCallum

#47 What Is A Friend?

This was written for my wonderful friend, Anna, whose closeness to me is akin to a twin. When faced with the devastating news that she had cancer, I wrote this poem and brought it to the hospital as I felt I could not let a moment go by without ensuring that she knew how much our friendship means to me.

With love and courage, I am pleased to say that she successfully beat her cancer, and continues to be my caring and trusted friend to this day.

This poem originally was published in Friendship Poems

What Is A Friend?

by Kit McCallum

A friend is someone you hold dear:
Someone who is always there, through thick and thin;
Someone who is only a phone call away.

A friend is someone you can always rely on:
Someone who is there to share your thoughts with;
Someone to listen, no matter the subject.

A friend is someone you can feel comfortable with:
Someone you can sit silently beside, without conversation;
Someone you do not need to fill the quiet moments with.

A friend is someone you can trust:
Someone who will guard your deepest secrets;
Someone who will never let you down.

A friend is someone who is not judgmental:
Someone who will gently offer advice and opinions,
Yet, someone who is not overbearing or critical.

A friend is someone who can keep you grounded:
Someone who can help you see through your obstacles;
Someone to shoulder you through life's trials.

A friend is someone who shares unconditionally:
Someone to laugh and to cry with;
Someone to lean on, through both the good and the bad.

A friend is someone you choose wisely,
For a friend is your own mirrored image:
Someone to compliment your own self;
Someone who indicates who you are as a person.

A friend.... is what you are to me.

47 Visitor Comments (from the Voting form)

Levy

I love this poem. so simple and yet so true. it's touching! keep up the good work!
Douglas

A special friend of mine just needed a confidence boost & some reassurance. the poemhelped
Roselaure

I can't even think of anything to say right now. This poem is sooo beautiful and sweet. It show how much you really do care for taht one special friend. You are a very good friend to write this. This poem can even make one cry, as I'm writing this I'm trying to hold back my tears. A poem like this really describe the true meaning of a friend. I've been looking for a poem like this, well I guess I finally find it. This is one of the sweetest poems I've ever read. Keep on doing what you do. You are a fantastic poet. THANK YOU!
Katrina

I think that it is awesome, it has a lote of truthful meaning about friendship, it relates to me because i trust my friend with alot of secrets and she trust's me with hers, it's just great having somebody there for you each and every day!
Alejandra

this poem is very cool i really like it
Portia

I love the poem because it represents how I feel about a friend of mine
Jessie

I dont even know what to say. This poem is a AMAZING ONE! You touched my heart so much! I lost my best friend to a fight a few months ago and it made me think of how much I miss her and how much I want to be friends! So I decided that soon I will call her and try to work things out! Thanks for making me look beyond and try to fix a broken friendship! Thanks again
penny

very moving words. great poem
Herlina

Wow. I really love this poem. I always searching the meaning of FRIEND and now I found this poem. So great and touching my heart. thanks. kit. !
seng

I love to read this. all the words from this poem tell how precious is a friend. ! i love it.
Mary

awesome
kiki

This poem made me think of my best friend which is also my sister. As soon as i started reading it i thought of my sister.
Torry

Good job! this is a great poem.
dawn

its lovely ,describes my friend exactly
Kourtney

I thought this poem was touching because im goin through a tough time right now. Im in a fight with two of my good friends and they are talkin about me and turning there backs on me, so i thoght this poem is very touching because everybody needs a friend
Katelyn

this was a great way to express friendship and after my HUGE fight with my best friend for life i thought that i was going to die. but now that ive heard this poem its made me feel better n think of her. thanks
RAEGAN

I JUST WANTED YOU TO KNOW THAT I THINK THT THIS THE MOST BEUITFUL POEM I HAVE READ. MY BEST FRIEND WAS DIGNOIGSED WITH TREMINAL CANCER ABOUT A MONTH AGO AND SHE IS NOT DOING GOOD! AS A MATTER OF FACT THE HAVE SAID JUST TO KEEP HER CONFORTABLE, BECAUSE IT HAS SPREAD SO FAST . THIS HAS BROUGHT ME RIGHT TO WHAT I WOULD WANT HER TO KNOW ! THANKS FOR SUCH A BEUITFUL WAY OF SAYING WHAT I WANTED TO SAY TO HER BUT COULD NOT FIND THE WORDS, THIS IS IT ALL!
randy

I love the way you wrote your true feeling how freind should be keep on writting your poetery show someone like me can start my own.
Collin

I have not read a better definition of a friend anywhere. This is truly what a friend should be. Excellent Kit McCallum.
Chery

An exceptional definition of a friend!
deb

I've a truly friend after I read this poem. thanx Kit McCallum
jojo

i love this poem too much. i feel this poet is writing what is exactely in my thought. i admit that i cannot write like these kind of poems but when i read them i feel every single word cause i love poems & cause i`ve graduated from English literature Department.
Amber

Thankyou! I've been searching everywhere for the PERFECT poem to give a special friend for her birthday. I think I've just found it!
Brenda

I love this poem, and always will! Good job kit!
Tina

This is a great poem. Because i have a best friend he is a great friend to have. Please write more poems.
Amy

I loved this poem because it made me think of how to like a friend more better.
Ashley

This is a great poem and is true!
Rhonine

Hey! I love your poem! It reminds me of my bestfriend who is always there for me.But unfortunetely we have our separate ways. Anyaway just keep up the good work!
juniorminor

It is really great it showa what a friend really is.It also shows what a friend does for one who is down.
marlene

I think you thought of what I wanted to say, if only I knew how to say it.
dottie

I recently have lost my 19 year old daughter to a vehicle accident. If it wasn't for the people in my life I wouldn't be getting through this. This poem gave me the opportunity to tell them how much they mean to me.Thank You!
Amanda

Too many people take their friends for granted everyday. This poem reminds me how much my friends mean to me.
James

Its the greatest poem I have ever read on 'Friendship'.. it touches me deeply cause it reminds me of my closest friend, Alan who, at the prime of his career, tragically lost both his kidneys last October. I make it a point to spend most, if not all of the 3 evening/week he has to be at the hospital for dialysis treatment. God willing, he will pull through as long as he can cause he is my special FRIEND.
Colleen

I like this poem so much that i had to send it to a friend!
Kacia

I like this poem
Lois

My Mom's long time friend just passed away from an illness and I was looking for a poem that described just what their friendship meant. This peom is perfect. Thank you.
Dana

Well what can I say this poem has brought me to total tears ..being a cancer patient myself ..I know for a fact that your friend is one lucky person to have a friend like you and I thank you myself as well for being so supportive thru their time of need .. Keep touching other people's heart thru your words and believe me every word is much appreciated
camille

I really enjoyed reading your poem it made me think of a true friend of mine.
Megan

This poem rocks!
Gauri

It was really a lovely poem which touched my heart like anything!
Elena

I love it!!
Rosie

I loved your poem
Chris

This is a great poem. I think these r the best qualities in a friend and in a lover also. Many people don't know what it means to be a friend.
Kathleen

Dear Kit, This poem described exactly how I feel about the only real true friend I have...You have a wonderful talent of using words in a beautiful meaningful way... Kathleen
Leesa

I love your poems! Keep up the good work.
Amanda

it was really good!
Geri

So beautiful and touching. Kit it brought tears to my eyes. Thank you for giving my the expression of friendship.

All Visitor Comments on this poem have been posted by people who wanted to let the author know the poem touched their hearts. If you would like to leave a comment of your own, please Vote for this poem.

#47 What Is A Friend?

Let the countdown begin ...