No good deed

When you're good, you're good

Your halo illuminates, your wings flutter grandly

Your light shines brighter than the spectrum cosmic

Your pride in quality service expands

Like a Thanksgiving float on its final leg

With Macy's on the horizon

Your smile is earned, earnest, and effervescent

You did good

Then, the hammer comes down

Smashing your terrific teeth, shattering your smile

Sending molars and incisors flying through your face

Cutting your cheeks, bones and all

You are paying the price for your hard work

But how?

More work on a project with people you don't care for

People who find your work as good as a little child's finger painting

That looks strangely similar to a fingerprint in processing?

A career-ending injury because you defended yourself or another

But your job has to protect itself from its own screwups?

A jail term for being a good person 

While your enemy goes scotfree off of a

Disgustingly convincing testimony to a jury of peers?

Before questions answered, your light is snuffed out

An eclipse of shame, defeat, and correction comes upon you

Halos hit the ground, wings clipped and ripped out 

Reverse molting with no warning

Darkness covers your soul, the cosmos shuts off its spectrum

Forgetting your existence, ignoring your qualities

Macy's doors slam in your face

The float deflated as if a number of street lights were uprooted by your travels

But why?

There are no answers, no solutions

Only excuses, more questions, cross statements

Just you and your goodness, or what's left

Trying to make it make sense

Trying to make it mean something

Trying to find reasons to do it again.

So, why and how? Why be good now?

Why bother doing what you do?

Because honestly, it's who you are

It defines the very soul that illuminates the world

Of hundreds of people who enjoy your very company

Your many talents, your good-natured soul

The light that shines in you made your soul strong

The halo was actually a comfy hat

The wings, a nice jacket

The pride, a favorite thought that creates

A smile, teeth still functioning and fabulous

Dentists approved, progressing nicely, perfection unnecessary

A truly authentic smile that's a vision of pure integrity

Because when you're good, you're good

And when you know it, live it, own it, and even give it

You're spectacular

The best prize that tops any punishment