Volunteering

by Barry Frauman

We need hands to stamp letters
strong aggressive fund raisers,
telephone staffers for three in the morning
when people are lonely, confused and scared.
We need hosts for our socials,
coffee-pot fillers, cleanup artists,
discussion group leaders, publicity whips.
We need your money as well as your time,
and what do you get for your money and time?

Aggravation tension yelling
deadlines missed and set again,
sleepless nights of why am I doing this
prima donnas and never again

but then
the faces of rejected people
light up with belonging,
stones in human shape
who have sat for months in your quiet corners
step out to help.
You hear thank you in dozens of voices,
and feel the warmest hugs;
you get friendships to last a lifetime,
and maybe – who knows? – love.