A friend who you can turn to,
when the chips are down,
who is always there for you.
who accepts who you are and what you are made from.
What Kipling called the thousandth man.
O NE man in a thousand, Solomon says,
Will stick more close than a brother.
And it?s worth while 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 wrong?s your wrong, and his right?s 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!
Well my thousandth man is my big bro Cassie
A kind generous, and loving brother who has stuck with me through thick and thin.
Yes I do take the piss out of him, and will of course continue to do so.
But I do love him
Lainey