Best Volunteers Poems
Those in life, who, for the unfortunate agonize
God's volunteers are,
Trying
To lessen humanity’s pain
Thus
Their sacrifice unnoticed doesn’t pass
As
In eternity, the heavens they
Gain!
© Demetrios Trifiatis
31 October 2015
Following acts of terror
rapt within their spell
volunteers move in concert
kindness starts to swell.
Amidst deeds so heartless
passersby watch stars appear
while cursing the darkness.
Citizens forget themselves
show community
assist as first responders
deal with tragedy.
Amidst deeds so heartless
passersby watch stars appear
while cursing the darkness.
Sensing splendor on the wing,
hands and feet reveal
wise steps worth remembering
eyes and ears of steel.
Amidst deeds so heartless
passersby watch stars appear
while cursing the darkness.
written below 4/28/2013, revised above 7/2/2021
Contest: Seguidilla
Sponsored by: William Kekaula
original winning sequidilla below
Stars Appear
Following acts of terror
rapt within their spell
volunteers move in concert
kindness starts to swell.
midst deeds so heartless
passersby watch stars appear
cursing the darkness.
I was turning the bed,
knife-deep in dirt when I felt it:
that ache in the wrists
from too much tending.
And there she was again—
not in the muscle,
in the memory.
Being her friend was like this:
feeding a ghost with phantom limbs,
never full, never proof enough.
She wore collapse like a weather system
borrowing against good nature,
demanded every last bit of attention—
prostration over a missed text,
a misunderstanding—
I miss her.
Not that she'd ask,
too committed to the bit: bad marriage.
It’s a loss—
how she wears his damage
like it’s all that’s left of her.
I loved that woman,
but it forced me
into the role of indentured meteorologist.
It felt like violence.
For my part in this,
the reason it lasted so long is simple:
I kept watering the weeds,
drenching her with active listening.
(The desire to be needed is intoxicating.)
It's a mercy for us both
that I didn’t get addicted.
I hope you understand
it wasn’t kindness,
nurturing that climate—
just the worst version of nice—
kept her stuck,
left me starved for reciprocity.
I had to walk away
before my spine bent
to match her trellis.
In light of today,
tomorrow I’ll plant marigold and mint,
lay down bone meal—
small things
that mind their own business.
Anything to keep my hands full
when the memory of her
breaks through soil again.
Flowers are blooming on the volunteers’ desk:
Roses, carnations, a spring bouquet,
Dish gardens and gold mums (a more masculine look,
The florist said).
Blooming like a garden
Of well-wishes and sentiment,
Blooming here in the hospital lobby
(Well, after all, it is spring).
Each vase or container bears a card.
What is its destination?
The new mother in Maternity?
“Oh, how pretty,” as she nurses her baby.
Or the woman down the hall?
Whose baby died after a brief flicker of life.
That’s all she’ll take home (this time): flowers.
Maybe to the tough kid on the third floor?
It was just an appendicitis, “no big deal.”
Next week, (or the next), he’ll be back
With his friends on Saturday night.
“Hey, look at his scar,” “Cool!”
Maybe that one goes to the old man,
You know, the one who’s dying of…something,
They don’t know exactly….old age?
He’d rather be at home in his garden.
A hospital full of people,
But only enough flowers
To cover the top of the volunteers’ desk.
How many patients, (impatient, really)
Will get nothing today?
Here come the couriers with just a few more.
“Let’s go…..hospitals are depressing.”
Even with (especially with) so many pretty flowers
Waiting on the volunteers’ desk.
When the sun rises
and it is shining brightly
on the entire earth.
When Holy Spirit
enters a holy person,
stays permanently.
When demons enter
a dirty person , can be
chased out easily.
But some people can
keeping demons for Secret
aims & deals in their lives.
Paul and Silas were
In jail due to casting out
demon from someone.
July 9th 2023
V is for some very fine workers, who give of self in
helping kids to learn;
O is for outstanding effort in making sure their p's
and q's are learned.
L means love of learning, for solving problems, in
giving students truth;
U is for unselfish gift of great devotion, in making
days a blessing, not a curse.
N is for their need of dedication, in giving self to calls
that must be met;
T is for that timely elocution in lending words our
students want and can't forget.
E means now an evolution, in muting lives for better in
some golden way;
E stands for their effort in the doing, keeping watch
on all that's said and done in class each day.
R gives rise to richer learning, in helping teachers meet
their goal;
S wins success for willing workers in playing out that
good and common role.!
Compassionate Volunteers
Does not matter what day, month or even time of year
Volunteers are always well deserved and are always here
They help with the impoverished, food banks
Babies and even with the elderly and the sick
All volunteers really know they surely have been
enthusiastically picked!
For when seeing them they have real nice
Eyes friendly smile and welcoming voice
And importantly so they are best dressed in
Volunteer's accessories of happy choice,
They wear brightly colored hospital scrubs.
Their won style of blue, yellow, pink or red
Some may say they sometimes bring police dogs
Who wag their tail when people pat their head,
The volunteers see what others do not see
They understand what others just want to be.
They realize a little compassion does go a long way
They generally help the sick or anyone in the hospital they stay,
They are very an "ear to the ground" as I well speak,
It is their caring ways that people do well and seek.
Whenever you need one they will be there
In tea time, meal and whenever you need them,
They initially raise enthusiastic hope and sweet dreams.!
Written: 9/8/14
Theresa Marie C.
sirens pierce the snowy air
demanding - a sudden call to action
vehicles fill the town hall lot
uniforms cover regular clothes
teams converge...
fire truck emerges and
leaves with rapidly assembled crew…
neighbors doing what neighbors do
Today some people came to help me stack wood
At this cabin I live, with wood piled high.
Restricted by an injury I have had.
Yet, these people have had injuries too.
Brain injuries in the past.
Yet recovering and able to volunteer in this way.
One man told me about the oil paintings he paints
as everyone raved what a great artist he is.
Another man stood in my kitchen telling me a story
Of a place he was at where they didn’t let him go outside.
Now he is happy, functioning and active
With a much better place to be, to do all he can do.
I was brought to tears with the kindness of these people.
People who are out there helping in ways like this
smiling about all they love to do with respectful words too.
Who have also been through so much of their own.
I am blessed today and nothing will pass me by
Without gratitude for what they have shown!
Heidi Sands
A world without volunteers,
Will only produce tears,
With the sum of all our fears,
Seeing more chased by bears,
Or constantly running up and down stairs,
In the absence of volunteers,
With few now living out their allotted years.
A world without volunteers,
Would bring no more world cups,
Or exciting sporting match ups,
With even Billionaires unable to pay for the cleans ups.
If we still want a world of volunteers,
We should put out more chairs,
For all our volunteers,
Who keep us in cheers.
Poetry is much like a Great Photo,Capturing feelings and emotions of a single moment in
time;then preserving it for future history books.Next generation learns.
Hurricane Katrina gives a lesson.For the next generation of Americans.
"TAKE CARE OF BUSINESS, A STITCH IN TIME SAVES NINE."
Yet they live on as pictures in our minds of a moment of time,emotions unforgotten.
An act of Natures Forces cause great change in strangers lives. They become strangers
in a moment of time : next a single heartbeat of" family united to help each other's
survival." at no other time in history of the United States have American's seen such
devastation of humanity. Not from an act of terrorism,but the forces of Nature!
Water is needed for life to continue,but must be clean processed water.
Water that is contaminated is able to destroy the young and the old with bacteria.
Water and time can be stronger than a rock or levies that hold water back.
To see the devastation of New Orleans and the genocide of people being moved to other
states even lose of family members and family pets. This picture does not go away.
Here a year later the homes are not all rebuilt,the families not all united due to death
caused by the rising waters.
This Great Nation can survive! And Heal! One day at a time. One person at a time.
When the forces of nature act against the community. The American Volunteer in each of
us, Steps Up to help others. while as human beings one day we would not stop to give
this person the time of the day and the next day of disaster,American Volunteers start
showing up to do the best they can. Faster than the Government is able to assess the
needs of the communities. Truthfully Americans have proved again and again, when
everything around us is at its worse,we step up and do our best.
GOD BLESS AMERICANS!
A cold hard military
signed up for a bloodbath
marching two by two
down the path to oblivion.
Row by row
with cargo in tow
Their blackened hollowed eyes see their end.
Hand in hand
they meet their Gods and all their Devils
they have their picks
they have their shovels
to dig their shallow graves
just to realize an end
at last
they won't be saved.
Volunteers,
Share each and every year.
They give their best.
They are motivated individuals,
Who have passed the test,
Which covers nobility, generosity, sincerity, and pride.
They lead us to the path of happiness and success,
With their hearts opened wide.
They guide the future to vast horizons,
With unselfish guidance.
Volunteers,
The chief examples of patriotism,
Of living the American way,
Each and every day.
wrote 4-29-10
Volunteers were summoned
To bring water and supplies
To the folks in darkened buildings
Since Con Edison's* demise.
With their backpacks fully loaded,
They trudged up the pitch-black stairs,
Lugging food and drink but even more -
The fact that someone cares.
For some people who were stranded,
Sitting lonely, in the dark,
Such a visit must have seemed to be
A very welcome spark.
Reaching out to help another
In a time of great distress
Is what elevates existence
And brings order to a mess.
So hats off to all the helpers
Who gave heart and soul and time,
For I'm sure they must be glowing,
Though still aching from the climb!
* NYC electric company
Volunteers
out to save lives
Civil Air Patrol