Friends

I have some wonderful friends, sure wish they were closer though. I have always remembered the first few lines from this poem,

Make new friends, but keep the old;
Those are silver, these are gold.
New-made friendships, like new wine,
Age will mellow and refine.
Friendships that have stood the test--
Time and change--are surely best;
Brow may wrinkle, hair grow gray;
Friendship never knows decay.
For 'mid old friends, tried and true,
Once more we our youth renew.

Joseph Parry

But was a little surprised when I read this. I always thought the old friends were gold, maybe I'm reading this wrong.