What is one act of kindness
against a lifetime of darkness?
One kind word, one handshake,
one smile, one dollar,
one ear, one meal, one ride
against a bad year
or a bad life.
Sometimes it is the difference
between a good day
or a bad one.
Other times it only equals
one moment against
an army of shadows.
Sometimes it means the world
other times it is lost
in a sea of sour expressions.
Sometimes it is the difference
between life and death.