Does anyone have in their lives or know of anyone who they can use this poem as
By nowment
@nowment (1757)
United States
March 6, 2007 6:11am CST
a way of describing the person they know? If so they are blessed.
The poem I refer to is
The Thousandth Man by Rudyard Kipling
For those not familiar with it here it is.
One man in a thousand, Solomon says,
Will stick more close than a brother.
And its worthwhile seeking him half your days
If you find him before the other.
Nine hundred and ninety nine depend
On what the world sees in you.
But the thousandth man will stand your friend,
With the whole round world agin you.
'Tis neither promise, nor prayer, nor show
Will settle the finding for 'ee
Nine hundred and ninety nine of em go
By your looks or your acts or your glory
But if he finds you and you find him
The rest of the world don't matter
For the thousandth man will sink or swim
With you in any water.
You can use his purse with no more talk
Than he uses yours for his spendings
And laugh and meet in your daily walk
As though there had been no lendings
Nine hundred and ninety nine of em call
For silver and gold in their dealings
But the thousandth man he's worth em all
Because you can show him your feelings.
His wrongs your wrong, and his rights your right
In season or out of season
Stand up and back it in all men's sight
With that for your only reason
Nine hundred and ninety nine can't bide
the shame or mocking or laughter
But the thousandth man will stand by your side
To the gallows foot and after!
Are you blessed with such a friend that you know you can count on regardless, to stand by you?
I hope so.
2 responses
@mshogrider67 (565)
• United States
6 Mar 07
Change the man to a woman and you hav e my best friend Renee. She is the person the poem was written for an dI was blessed to find her 15 years ago.
1 person likes this
@nowment (1757)
• United States
6 Mar 07
You are lucky I also found such a person in my life, but I don't think it should be limited to man, to me at least when this poem says man, it means man as in human, not man as in male female.
I realize that when Kipling wrote this it was of course regarding the honor of a man, but I do think that women can be this way as well.
I was reminded of this poem today and so I thought hmm interesting how many others have found their thousandth man,