Subtle Heroism

Every act of kindness is charity.
A bright smile is a ray of light for the lonely child shrouded in darkness.
Good advice is a compass that directs lost souls to the right path.
What is given selflessly is actually kept as a ticket to heaven.
Those who give selflessly are heroes.

A hero can be the person sitting on a bright yellow seat of the Q train,
With a book bag between her legs and her eyes traveling the pages of “Les Miserables”.

Heroes need no capes nor supernatural powers, to give someone hope.
They need courage, determination, and resilience to build a foundation of compassion.
Heroes desire no name, no fame, no wealth,
A water-pure conscience is invaluable
(Knowing that, by sharing a bit of someone’s burdens,
they made a significant part of the road easier).

The burdened one is a victim of life’s multiplicity.
A victim can be the woman balancing on the train,
Holding tightly to the cold, steel pole,
Hiding her troubles behind her facade of professionalism.

Or more obviously, the victim is the woman limping from car to car with a cane,
Asking for money or food from the other passengers.
She crosses the cars through doors that warn not to;
The desperate do not heed rules-
Survival is more important than paying a fine.

The other passengers ignore her, betrayed by the jingle of copper in their pockets
And the cup of coffee warming their frozen hands.

Ignorance is a villain
That seals your eyes, ears, and heart.
Apathy turns your insides into ash.
When you ignore the pleas of cries around you,
You are the villain’s accomplice.

The girl looks up from her reading,
Takes out her wallet,
And hands the poor woman the small amount of money she has.
Even without a penny in your possession, the smallest gesture means something.
Just smile.