Tag: Volunteer

NaPoWriMo 2021 Day 22

On By WinstonIn Enlightenment, NaPoWriMo, Personal, Poetry, Society, Values, VolunteeringLeave a comment

My father-in-law Yvon Cyr received an award tonight for Outstanding Senior Volunteer. Over the years he has logged 55,000 hours as a volunteer. That works out to over 28 years of full time employment! This poem is dedicated to him and all the other hard working and unsung heroes who give everything they can to those who need their help and ask nothing in return.

In Praise of Volunteers

What does it mean to volunteer,

To give your time for free?

Give with no thought of getting back,

As strange as that may be.

How strange it is and wonderful,

Such kindness now to find.

Someone who puts another first,

No payment in their mind.

Most times when someone gives a hand,

The expectation’s clear.

There’s something wanted in return,

Not so the volunteer.

They work unsung, behind the scenes,

To see a project through.

And when it’s done they start to look,

For something more to do.

They’ll give their time to help to feed,

Those who can’t feed themselves.

You’ll find them in a foodbank when,

It’s time to stock the shelves.

They raise the funds to help a cause,

Because they know it’s right.

And if there’s cause there’s some who will,

Stay and help through the night.

So thank you all for all you do,

For tasks both great and small.

You do so much ask nothing back,

You should stand proud and tall.

Now please accept my humble thanks,

These simple words of praise.

To all the volunteers out there,

My glass in toast, I raise.

Cheers, Winston

NaPoWriMo Day 22

On By WinstonIn Enlightenment, Global Issues, my blessed life, NaPoWriMo, Personal Responsibility, Poetry, Society, Uncategorized, ValuesLeave a comment

We often hear about the greed of the super rich. But the fact is, it’s most of us as well. We all see the poverty in our own communities and around the world, but so few step up to do anything about it. Instead of waiting for the rich to throw money at these problems or the government to fix them, it’s up to each of us. Today’s poem is about the low-level greed and despair that hold us back from a better world. Enjoy.

 

WE CAN BE THE CHANGE

Today I have enough to eat,

A roof over my head.

I turn a tap and water’s there,

I have a warm, safe bed.

 

Sometimes there’s things that I may want,

I’m sad I cannot get.

But then I try to realize,

They are not needs I bet.

 

So many live without enough,

To eat or even drink.

How spoiled am I to stress about,

Stuff I don’t need, I think.

 

It is the blessing and the curse,

Of where I live I guess.

We have so much, but want much more,

It makes our world a mess.

 

Why’s it so hard to understand,

There’s others need it more.

The money that I spend on whims,

Could truly help the poor.

 

Instead of doing all we can,

To help those most in need.

We drop our coin, to buy that thing,

And never think it’s greed.

 

No, greed’s a thing for CEOs,

Not folks like you and me.

The truth is we are just as bad,

On smaller scale you see.

 

We want to keep all that we make,

The same as rich folk do.

And get upset when strangers ask,

For cash from me and you.

 

We don’t want to be told the truth,

Reminded of the fact.

That we are just like all the rest,

Who know but will not act.

 

We get so overwhelmed when we,

Think of the problem’s scale.

But don’t forget that plankton feed,

The mighty baleen whale.

 

No runner ever starts the race,

Right at the finish line.

It’s all the steps that come between,

To victory incline.

 

So think on this, the smallest step,

We take is something more.

And even baby steps move us,

From where we were before.

 

Before you buy that shiny thing,

That just now caught your eye.

Give just a bit, it’s not that hard.

To help someone, just try.

 

Cheers, Winston