always sadness
always pain
always possibility
out of these arise
the spirit and the will to triumph
over adversity and hardship
the courage to break the limitation
of ignorance
and lack
to bring to as many beings as one can 
kindness
in human terms.
Only a few souls
know how to help us
in ways we need
most advise and words of reprimand
miss the mark.
Acts of kindness
help
in the long run
more than stern discipline

which will never let us 
or teach us love
but can make us act
because we fear
which is a weak foundation
for lasting change
averaged out
over a lifetime
my lifetime
those who have helped me
the most to develop
are those who freed me
from dependence upon them
with a light refreshing touch
they never demanded credit
or called attention 
to their own good deeds
but let an almost invisible imprint
on my soul and because
of these people 
I ride the waves
of chaos
and hope emerges
out of darkness
and depravity
that opened me 
up 
changed me 
allowed me to experience 
lasting joy
not based upon 
what i receive 
but
just living
and giving from my highest
and best potential
to aid the disease
of the planet
and touch the world 
with doingness
beyond words.

©.2010
Stephen John Kalinich
All Rights Reserved