Keep the friend.

If you excel at anything

then be prepared

to face envy and hatred

from those are not so blessed.

To reign supreme in competition

is to stand alone

gold is a lonely metal

and usually hidden from man.

We are taught to excel

but we are seldom told

of the great and difficult

burden we shall be forced to bear.

When a friend is beaten

he becomes an enemy

better to take second place

and keep the friend.