Purgatory – A Prison Diary Vol 2

THE THOUSANDTH MAN

One 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!

Rud­yard Kipling (1865-1936)