Seven Heartwarming Poems for Friendship
Friends may enter our lives at all different stages, but the best ones are here to stay. Whether two friends meet as children, young adults, or even later in life, one thing remains true: they love and support each other. Friends are there through life’s toughest moments; they help us through stressful classes, career changes, breakups, and loss. Even if they don’t say a word, their presence means the world. To help express just how much a good friend means in life, we’ve selected 7 heartwarming poems for friendship.
“Hug O’ War” by Shel Silverstein
From the beloved children’s poetry collection Where the Sidewalk Ends is Shel Silverstein’s “Hug O’ War.” An anthem for those who choose peace over violence, this kid-friendly poem evokes a sense of kind playfulness that captures the essence of any true childhood friendship. If you like the good-natured tone of this poem, the rest of the collection is sure to make you smile.
“Us Two” by A. A. Milne
Another kid-friendly pick, the poem “Us Two” is written by A. A. Milne, most famous for authoring the original Winnie the Pooh books. Filled with imagination and childlike wonder, “Us Two” tells the story of two best friends searching for dragons and facing their fears together.
“Love and Friendship” by Emily Brontë
Best known for authoring Wuthering Heights, poet and novelist Emily Brontë makes a sharp observation of relationships in this poem. “Love and Friendship” uses images of two trees to contrast the sudden and often fleeting grips of romance with the constant, dependable bloom of a solid friendship.
“To All My Friends” by May Yang
Hmong-American poet May Yang often writes under the persona HAUNTIE, just as she did with this poem. “To All My Friends” is a slow, steady thank-you to the friends who have been there through anguish, rage, pain, and laughter. The stoic and even beat of the poem mimics the solid foundation on which friendships are built.
“We Eat Out Together” by Bernadette Mayer
Love becomes a lavish dinner through the strong imagery in this poem. Avant-garde poet Bernadette Mayer uses her signature style of unconventional language in this poem to build the picture of an elaborate feast, which stands as a metaphor for her heart.
“Friendship After Love” by Ella Wheeler Wilcox
Popular poet and journalist Ella Wheeler Wilcox was known for her cheer and optimism. Her poem “Friendship After Love” describes how friendship is always there for us once the throes of desire have melted away—whether it be a deeper friendship with our romantic partner, or our friends waiting for us with open arms after a painful breakup.
“I Loved My Friend…” by Langston Hughes
This heartbreaking poem by Harlem Renaissance poet Langston Hughes confronts loss head-on, but with a tender tone. With a gentle end and beginning, the short poem makes a strong connection with the brevity of life, the grief of loss, and the enduring nature of friendship—even unto death. “The poem ends, / Soft as it began -” he writes. “I loved my friend.”
