5.9r Helping

by Eric Chaet

It’s hard to help anyone—
to understand what help they need,
& to deliver that help.
Often delivering the help
would take from the helper
what the helper needs to live
without help that can’t be counted on.

Some are in positions in which it is their duty to deliver help.
But usually they don’t understand what others need—
or they may not have the resources or ability to deliver it.
Yet, sometimes, someone manages to help someone.
Some help one person after another, day after day, for decades.

Some are in positions in which no one expects them to help anyone—
some are just getting by, despised, desperate.

Sometimes, people feel confident & generous
enough to fund helpers—
other times, insecure, people withdraw funds,
when others need help most.

Still, sometimes, someone understands what help is necessary,
& is capable of delivering it, & delivers it.

Most people—whether they have hardened themselves
in order to get beyond needing help themselves, they imagine,
don’t try to help, except maybe to impress someone.

Some gladly allow themselves to be convinced
that helping only distorts signals
people need to help themselves.

And it’s true that giving people what they want
that they don’t need enough to struggle for,
corrupts them,
& even corrupts the one who does the giving.

Many are too desperately needy themselves to think of helping,
or insecure because of what they imagine they’ll have to face.

But some people try to help, tho helping is very difficult,
& manage, occasionally, to help—
some over & over again, thru-out their lives.

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Picture: Michigan Center For Nursing