Can't find what I'm looking for.....please help

[anothertalkname]

I'm incognito on this one (sorry). My friend (who is also a MNer) has a milestone birthday coming up next week. I'm looking for a poem about friendship, I've looked all over online and can't really find anything suitable - can anyone help? Something not religious and not too slushy please. Perhaps with reference to friendships evolving, especially when you have had children.
Thanks very much.

My friend is turning 40, so maybe a poem about that? My friend is also an only child, so are there any poems about how lovely only children are?
Thanks very much.

Think problem is that what's online is (except for canonical stuff that's out of copyright) nearly automatically rubbish. For anything good you'd have to do library research ... Neil Astley 's recent anthologies of life-stage stuff (eg "Staying Alive") would be a good place to start, I think - have you looked at those?

That's a shame I have not got time to get to the library before her birthday. Do you know of any good online sites that would list Neil Astley's work? I've searched but can't find him on any of the poetry sites.
Thanks very much.

Found this page which has a poem and an essay from Ralph Waldo Emerson on it, including this quote - you might find some others.

"I do not wish to treat friendships daintily, but with roughest courage. When they are real, they are not glass threads or frostwork, but the solidest thing we know."

These aren't too bad either.

Thanks JackieNo