A Friend
Who Just Stands By
When trouble
comes your soul to try,
you love the
friend who just stands by.
Perhaps there's
nothing he can do,
the thing is
strictly up to you:
For there are
troubles all your own,
and paths the
soul must tread alone;
Time when love
can't smooth the road
nor friendship
lift the heavy load,
but just to
know you have a friend,
who will "stand
by" until the end,
whose sympathy
through all endures,
whose warm handclasp
is always yours,
it helps, someway,
to pull you through,
although there's
nothing he can do,
and so with
fervent heart you cry,
God bless the
friend who just "Stands By."
B.Y.Willams