Loyalty

 
He may be six kinds of a liar, 
He may be ten kinds of a fool, 
He may be a wicked highflyer 
Beyond any reason or rule; 
There may be a shadow above him 
Of ruin and woes to impend, 
And I may not respect, but I love him, 
Because - well, because he's my friend. 

I know he has faults by the billion, 
But his faults are a portion of him; 
I know that his record's vermilion, 
And he's far from the sweet Serphim; 
But he's always been square with yours truly, 
Ready to give or to lend, 
And if he is wild and unruly, 
I like him - because he's my friend. 

I criticize him but I do it 
In just a frank, comradely key, 
And back-biting gossips will rue it 
If ever they knock him to me! 
I never make diagrams of him, 
No maps of his soul have I penned; 
I don't analyze - I just love him, 
Because - well, because he's my friend. 

   - Berton Braley  (1882-1966)