The Sincere Man

What gifts of speech a man may own,
  What grace of manners may appear,
Have little worth unless his heart
  Be honest, forthright and sincere.

The sincere man is like a rock,
  As true as time; with honest eye
He looks you squarely in the face
  Nor turns aside to make reply.

Nothing is hidden; there is no sham,
  No camouflage to caution care,
No ifs or buts to haunt the mind,
  Or secret doubts to linger there.

A crystal candor marks his speech,
  With conscience clear he goes his way,
He does the thing he thinks is right
  Nor cares a whit what others say.

Give me a man that is sincere,
  And though a wealth of faults attend,
I shall clasp his hand in mine
  And claim him as a trusted friend!

--Alfred Grant Walton