the feeling that it brings
knowing that you can help someone
letting the floodgates open
and through their darkness shining your sun

the healing that it brings
to lift someone out of the dark
like shelter from the cold
like in the darkness, a spark

but that can go too far
and it can turn on me
looking for someone to help
not just letting it be

and doing it in real life
that's the measure of a man
helping when it's unpopular
standing for someone the best that you can

without the security
of being behind a screen
when it means facing society
and we all know how it can be mean

and cruel and hurtful too
yes, society can tear you down
all for the sake of another
a hero without a crown

don't do it for the glory
there is none to be had
don't do it for recognition
that would be selfish and bad

do it for love
the love that you feel in your heart
that connects you and the person
a feeling that gives you a start

with patience and understanding
love and logic too
with empathy and forgiveness
we all know what to do

but there is no prize to be won
and no title to be earned
it's a selfless act
and sometimes you get burned

so I thank you all
for being there for me
and being so selfless
your great acts, I do see

and aspire to follow
in the footsteps of those
that I look up to on here
that have helped me grow

[Travelinglady]

Very nice! I suspect many of us feel this way about folks here, and you have expressed it so well.

[BlueInanna]

Nice work Dan. I think that's one of my favorite Dan poems yet!

Remember when we were all talking about combining some of our works for some type of non-profit book? I think we really should. I think people are curious about bp people. We fascinate them but at arms reach ya know...

yeah, I don't know what happened with that. We really should though