Breath of Friendship

Published on Wednesday 3rd April 2013 by seanwalsh

“But Oh! The blessing it is to have a friend

to whom one can speak fearlessly on any subject;

with whom one’s deepest –

as well as one’s most foolish thoughts –

come out simply and safely.

Oh, the comfort – the inexpressible comfort

of feeling safe with a person –

having neither to weigh thoughts nor measure words,

but pouring them all right out,

just as they are, chaff and grain together;

certain that a faithful hand

will take and sift them,

keep what is worth keeping,

and then with the breath of kindness

blow the rest away.”

– Dinah Maria Mulock Craik, A Life for a Life, 1866

Sean Walsh