October 17, 2008 - 5:39pm — cuttlefishman
October Poetry Contest Submission
This is my poem for the October Inspirational Poetry Contest. I am by no means a good poet, but I feel strongly behind this one. People ask me often, "Why do you volunteer for such things?". And I answer to them, that I like preforming service to the community. They don't understand what service does, and how even the smallest bit does so much. So in this vein, I wrote the following poem.
"Why I serve"
What is service?
Is it the scent,
of sawdust and sweat?
Is it the sound,
of children's laughter?
Is it the feeling,
of being dry and warm?
Is it the sight,
of eye's gleaming with unselfishness?
Why do we serve?
To feel better about ourselves,
or perhaps as a memorial,
to others and their strength.
To spend time reflecting on who we are,
or to make a better world.
Who are we?
Those who serve without reward,
who merely wish for a better world.
Those who try to bear the weight,
of projects immense enough.
And still they except more and more,
despite such burdens.
Are we fools for doing so,
deluded in believing such things?
Who is to say such a thing, who has never,
Smelt the scent,
of sawdust and sweat?
Listened to the sound,
of children's laughter?
Felt the feeling,
of being dry and warm?
Seen the sight,
of eye's gleaming with unselfishness?
Let them do this all,
and furthermore,
and then they finally can ask,
Why do we serve?
Thank You.