Tribute to an Everyday Hero

Written for Gabriella's prompt at Poetry Jam: to write a tribute poem to someone we admire. I didn't have to look far!

He's a laid back kinda guy,

humble, quick to encourage others,

self-deprecating,

while seeing the best

in everyone else.

Loves his wife, adores his kids,

is a good dad,

makes them laugh,

really listens to them,

and teaches them

what they need to know.

He cares about his students,

cries with them,
- " I feel you, man" -

drives them to the hospital,

is there in their most desperate hours.

They still remember, and are grateful,

when they meet by chance

somewhere out in the world,

years later.

"How's it goin', man?"

he'll ask.

"Good? Great!

How's the baby?"

He never thinks he's doing enough,

yet he does more

than any six other people. 

When it comes to caring,

no one can beat him:

from the homeless man he 

exchanges smiles with every morning,

to the lady on the park bench feeding the pigeons,

he knows everyone on his beat.

He sees their humanity 

- our shared humanity -

and when he tells us their stories,

he makes us see it, too.

His stories make us smile,

or cry,

makes our hearts ache,

or soar,
but we always come away
feeling good -
feeling kinder.

He reminds us of those struggling humans

we need to keep on our radar,

so they don't fall through the cracks.

He's a good man,

this Brian of Waystation One,

one of the best,

with a heart bigger 
than all of Virginia,

an everyday hero,

who keeps doing what he's doing

to try to make a difference

in this world.

So I wrote this poem

to tell him "Thanks!"

and that - I noticed.