This poem compares fame and friendship, stating that friendship is superior to fame. The first stanza describes fame as "food that dead men eat" since people are often only valued after death, such as through statues and awards. However, in the tomb there is no light and people are soon forgotten after death. The second stanza asserts that friendship is "a nobler thing" because in one's final moments, the memory of a true friend is better than any fame. A friend will overlook faults and remember only the good, which is a comfort fame cannot provide.

1. Fame and friendship -
H.A. Dobson
This poem sings songs of friendship. Fame is the
thing which every person sought for. People can do
anything to be famous. But here poet says that
friendship is far better than fame.
In first stanza, poet talks about fame. He says that
fame is a food that dead men eat. The meaning of this
is that people value person after death. We see that
great people are awarded after death and their statues
are built. Poet says that he does not want this food. In
tomb there is no light and there in narrow place they
receive fame. Their fame no longer remains and
people forget them. No one prays now for them.
Now in second stanza, poet describes how friendship
is better than fame. He says, “But friendship is a
nobler thing”. In last part of life when death comes,
man recalls memory of friend. It was better part of life
and his friend makes funeral of his faults. Means in
friendship faults are forgotten and only good part is to
be remembered. So it is better than fame.