Sunday, March 08, 2009

The 'Norman No-Mates' Poetry Corner

New Friends and Old Friends

Make new friends, but keep the old;
Those are silver, these are gold.
New-made friendships, like new wine,
Age will mellow and refine.
Friendships that have stood the test -
Time and change - are surely best;
Brow may wrinkle, hair grow gray,
Friendship never knows decay.
For 'mid old friends, tried and true,
Once more we our youth renew.
But old friends, alas! may die;
New friends must their place supply.
Cherish friendship in your breast -
New is good, but old is best;
Make new friends, but keep the old;
Those are silver, these are gold.

Joseph Parry (1841-1903)



Particularly pertinent advice, this, for our situation here in Beijing, I fear, where all is transience and change, friends leaving, moving on every few years. At least I'm not at an advanced enough age that my friends are dying off; but I am in that zone where most of them are married with kids, or thinking about it soon, or at least starting to "get serious" about their relationships and their careers.

I have nothing against any of that. It just doesn't leave much time for drinking, that's all. Or for pool. Or for generally hanging out.

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