Sandpaper

Have you ever met some people
Who rubbed you the wrong ways?
Who kindled a competitiveness in you
And sparked some contesting flame?

These kind of people who intimidate you
To greatness and high measures
Who push you past your normal bounds
And cultivate your moral treasures

Yes, they’re the sorts of people
You should aspire to have as friends
Who intimidate you to greatness
As your wisdom they extend.

The sort of people who stir excellence
In your manner and your conduct
Who force you to be a better you
As they goad, they train, instruct

Aspire to be among the crowd
Who scares you because they’re better
And rub you rough to make you smooth
And remove mediocrity’s fetters

Don’t be intimidated by the group
Who seem of character supreme
Who hold the law in high regard
And wisdom in high esteem

Whose names are great, who seem unflawed
Whose statures stand magnanimous
Whose nature seems to rival those
Who’ve seemed historically just

Aspire to be the companion of wise
Though they may make you feel dumbed down
Let their example raise your manner
And their wisdom be your crown.