What Keeps Us Returning

What keeps the volunteer returning
three years,
three mornings a week?
The book of notes from each situation,
each client needing an appointment,
the way she wrote detailed and fast,
the surety in the typing of the reports
of what was asked, what advice was given,
impact and resolution,
the face to face and telephone work
of advice giving,
the quiet rhythm of helping.
Care, devotion,
the grateful act of showing up
to give back,
to honour old kindnesses.

Let us keep the help we knew
in the early 2000s,
a great uncle beside us
in the room for water grants,
the quiet set up of booklet plans
teaching us how to carry the bills
that followed grief.

Or the wish to get involved,
to be part of the community,
to see yourself in the present day photograph
of volunteers outside the office,
printed in the newspaper
beside the volunteers of seventy years ago.

Or the thought of giving law courses another chance,
the wondering if they are still meant for you,
the CILEx evenings and open doors,
if only there were scholarships
and grants.

Or the friendships of similarly aged people,
one an intensive law student already certain
she has what it takes to be a lawyer,
the other soon to be a barrister,
who offers you waitressing hours at Silverstone
alongside her.

Or the initiative you had,
the sense that all of this must go toward job searching,
that it has to mean something,
that it might carry you somewhere good,
and soon.

Choose the belonging that keeps you moving.