It is not in the accolades of easy friends
that we gain the higher ground,
nor in the shallow flattery of those
fixed upon their own ends.

It takes the hard words, softly spoken,
to bring to bear the smoothing edge
of iron against iron,
to hone away the dulling shard.

We need the close acquaintance
of those we trust,
the occasional friction
that rubs through the rust

of corrupting change,
returns the keen surface
that keeps us sharp to our work,
faithful to our purpose.

From these, then, whose word we know
carries the weight of honest love,
we take genuine encouragement
in the compliment of correction.

H. Arnett
5/1/12