He was so alone,

the man who did it all, quiet and self-effacing while others shone.

He watched from the sidelines while others basked in the spotlight, content to know he put them there.

Brilliant, caring and kind, he was a million people, 

behind the scenes he toiled with no expectation or desire for acknowledgement.

Anytime the boat would lurch, he was there to keep it from capsizing, quietly righting it and going about his day.

We all have that person to walk beside us. 

A father, a friend, a lover, a son. 

They may not express themselves with words the way others do, but they feel deeply,

just the same. 

Their hands tell the story of their love for others,

competently shaping the world into one more beautiful with each act of devotion