Anything helps

Write a poem based on the phrase "Anything helps"

Anything helps,

but what is anything?

Could it be everything?

That,

wouldn't make any sense,

if you think about it.

War doesn't help,

death doesn't help,

sickness, hunger, 

are but a few 

of the many 'things' 

that don't help.

Although, 

what is your definition of help?

What are we helping?

Who are we helping?

Still, the same applies, 

to everything.

Something helps,

but not anything.

Author's Note

I found the prompt on a website to write about the phrase "Anything helps" within any writing genre.
This is the poem I wrote within a few minutes.
I would love to see your opinions!

Reviews

[unsavable_soul]

I found this to be an excellent conveyance. I like the philosophical thoughts within the body of work here. In my opinion they are not presented in a manner that makes me over contemplate the words but more over directly your idea. I being of a very exploratory nature find this to be as I perceive it to be deeper in to regards of the nature of things one might define as good or evil, ethical and unethical.

The reason I state this is in my mind I see your portion here...

" War doesn't help,
death doesn't help,
sickness, hunger,
are but a few
of the many 'things'
that don't help. "

And I am left upon completing the piece as a reader in contemplation of this part and one other. The first being that while the obvious compassionate stand point is to think of things that cause grief as harmful, I ask myself, as I always do. What is the bigger picture or full scope of a statement or idea. Which leads me to the need for such "evils" and the many ways that these things do aid in the Ouroboric or endless cycle of life or physics and numerous other applications. If examples are wanted I will be happy to present a few, but I am sure as you have demonstrated you are completely capable of wrapping your head around that idea. In fact I suspect you have, and this being the view chosen perhaps.

I feel this is a strong work you have here and don't want you to view my statements as suggestive in any sense merely my personal contemplation your piece invoked. As for my last bit, mind you I think this is a failure on my part. I became confused at this ending and ask for your meaning as I like this work and after enjoying it in my context wish to truly grab the meaning of your piece of art.

" Something helps,
but not anything. "

I get the "something helps" I feel, but I lack the wherewithal I guess to grasp the "but not anything" portion. I think my big question is how "anything" is being viewed here. I personally am not sure if you mean something won't help anything. As in potentially meaning one need give more than just something. or anything offered is not always helpful. As I said... I look deep into things when I can, all too often I am stumbling upon truly perceiving though.

I would like to be clear that nothing about this piece is anything less in my opinion than well written and interestingly philosophical. I simply like to know the whole of a work, in both my interpretation and the creators intent. Whew, I think that is it, quite possibly the longest reviews I have done. Being that there is nothing actually bad or even per se on my end constructive to say in regards to bettering this piece. I would say let that aspect speak of my love of this work.

Look forward to a more direct understanding of this piece which achieves so many levels of, in my opinion, what so many of us strive for.
As always...
A pleasure Harrisen.
Sincerely
Christopher

[Harrisen Viator]

Well, Christopher, I really enjoyed reading your thoughts on my poem, because it gave me some more insight into what others might see when they read it. I do understand that without evil there can be no good, because how could you judge good if there is nothing for you to judge it against. I was just saying that in the grand scheme of things if you are looking for help not anything can be helpful, only somethings can. Because, if you say that anything can help then you open yourself up to, well anything!
Let's say someone has a debilitating illness that causes them many struggles throughout life, if you were to say anything helps then perhaps death could help them by putting them out of their misery, but is that the option that they would first choose? Probably not, but something could help them like modern medicine or treatments for their illness. That's just the point I was intending to make when writing this poem.
I'm glad that I have your insight, it really helps me look at all the possibilities I could have taken when producing this.
Thanks and I greatly enjoy seeing your reviews on my poems. It helps give more perspective, because you have an insightful mind.
Thanks again,
-Harrisen

[unsavable_soul]

And I, Harrisen appreciate you willingness to help my understanding of you art.
I am sure something in my lengthy response in some manner might think i had something to add. Truth be told as I said I felt this was very complete and conjuring of strong ideas and notions. My point is that your explanations, were very clear and well spoken and I can now clearly see the meaning behind the ending and I thank you for it. I ever enjoy your company here.
Thank you ever so much
Sincerely
Christopher

[Harrisen Viator]

Well, I'm glad that you can understand the main purpose for why I chose what I said. It's awesome having someone to throw ideas back and forth with, you've opened my mind more than you know, so thank you dude.
-Harrisen

[unsavable_soul]

The appreciation is greatly mutual and has been my pleasure, truly.
Chris

[Rita L. Sev]

I like the concept - the questions of "what is the definition of help?" and the ways to accomplish helping - and all the ways we do not (even if we may think we are helping). A lot to ponder, and should be explored. I feel like you could do quite a bit more with this one.

[Harrisen Viator]

Thank you for this, I will have to think about it some. I actually didn't write this poem I typed it out, and I feel like I can get a better grasp with a pen or pencil in my hand rather than using keys on a laptop.

[Rita L. Sev]

I feel the same way - I have to feel the words coming out of my pen to feel that they are "mine".

[TLK]

Reminded me of: "If everything is terrible, nothing is." (http://www.everythingisterrible.com/).


Maybe sometimes anything -- anything at all -- does help. Even pain to remind us that we still feel, even abuse to remind us that we are high enough above something else to be lowered. However, generally, I think you are right -- something is better than anything.

The run of three questions in a row breaks the flow up for me. I think it is because of the way the inflection of a question mark ends a sentence?

[Harrisen Viator]

You have good points that I never considered before I started writing this. I need to put more thought into what I have before I just throw it out there. I also see how the flow is disrupted with the three questions. Thank you for your insight, I'll have to think about this poem for a while. Maybe I'll come back to it and revise it.
-Harrisen

[TLK]

Maybe you never will, but that doesn't mean you've not learned anything.

[Harrisen Viator]

That is very true.