Many of us have heart-wrenching reasons for our fanatical commitment to these philanthropic biomedical research projects. Quite a few of us have written about those reasons. Sometimes these words help the newer DCers understand us or may even cause a few who wander by to join us. Read on, but only if you dare to risk becoming one of us. Martin Luther King, jr. may have said it better than all of us here: In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends. PS. This thread is open to all of our poets. I just moved the collection here. Feel free to add.
relic's DC prayer Behold the smile of the innocents'. A soul unmarred by grief or pain. With tiny hand, reaches out for comfort. Be that I could give it. We, imperfect and unsure, do struggle with faith No sense to the suffering, we strive for reason. Yet the strength of conviction guides us onward, We shall make a difference. From the first one to the next, we join. Band together, and follow the call. Noone knows from where the horns sound. Nor care we, our mission is clear. Since mankind began, he has combined his efforts. But now, with effort unique in it's scope, we may change our destiny. Why now have we been given this? Perhaps we have gotten an answer to our prayers. More than the sum of us, we have been given, This chance to make another's life whole. No reward shall we see, not even the fruits of these efforts Yet my heart reaps the bounty, my soul, peace. If there is to be a judgement When the face of our creator we shall see Though our failures shall be noted So too shall "DC for humanity" I find in this, great peace and solace. For I have been given this chance -relic
A Few DC Souls What does it take to do what we do? Why do we struggle, do you have a clue? What is it that guides us? Few reasons have we. We make our world better with our thankless DC Money is dear, few extras for us. But onward we struggle and conquer we must We dream of a day when the sickness shall go We may never see it, it's enough just to know. It's all about them, those we'll never meet. Onward we battle, and never retreat. Their faces shall shine. Their lives shall be whole. Because of the kindness of a few DC souls. -relic
Shadow Play Soft cries echo and end sorrow wafts in air stilled by death. Again, calls the reaper and again. Pestilence our foe, conquers Yet as the darkness prevails We struggle to repel it's icy mantle another falls. So it continues for millennia Unheeding of our misery, Disease prances among our children Blight thieves our wise No retort had we to offer No weapon keen enough Nor might nor power grand enough To dissuade the scourges of mankind Now comes to the darkness Our pinpoint's glean. Flickers perhaps to disappear Then strengthening it gathers And another glimmer faint joins the first Tiny fireflies in the vast blackness. Coalesced and emboldened We gather to abate ill's encroachment Resolute in our struggle. Vast and daunting the dark cloak of disease. Weak our light Blackness' edge we shall not spy. We care not, onward we battle. For generations beyond us In shimmering brightness Shall stream shafts of light Upon the dark pestilence Long after the glow had begun. And our small torches have fallen Yet others will raise their beacons And carried them forward Toward a time without ill. This end is all we ask Naught for us, but for them -relic
The Eyes Have It. Yet another child died today. Just one of many, The fate ubiquitous, Yes, this I know. But... This time I knew her This time I cared I though I had cared before. But I am foolish And selfish. I had gotten lost, In many things, Ambition and pride, Greed and personal angst. While all around me The children died. Not alone or in pairs But by the thousands. Afraid... Have you ever seen a frightened child? Terror in a toddler's eyes? I pray you never do... Naught else will so shred your being, as the desperate, pleading look In a soul too young to understand. Glance around At you sister, or daughter Niece or charge. Imagine watching them perish Feel the helplessness, Anguish, even anger. We bicker and we rant. and they die. We protect our pride and our place. and they die. We say we're better than each other still they die. The pain will fade with the memories The world goes on, I'm aware. Yes, this too shall pass But shall it pass unnoticed? Should it pass unnoticed? Perhaps you see...perhaps not. Is their pain less, since we can forget? Thus I ask; "Do you care?" "Enough?" -relic
What Makes a DC Hero? Can we judge him by his visage? Or color, height or dress? Shall we decide the kind of man By his deeds... or something less? The heroes that I've come to know Have been as different as they could. They vary in so many ways save one, their heart is good. Some have a deep brown hue of skin I'm closer to pale grey. Some have a great wild shock of hair, Most of mine has gone away. Some are missing some important bits Some can only halfway see Some are from venus as as you know They are as crazy as can be. The beauty of my heroes Is not that which I can see But in souls purely golden Finest of humanity. -relic
How many tiny hands go cold, Before we let loose of our gold? How many souls must reaper shred? How many children cold and dead? What does it take to make you fight? To end this ill, to stop this blight? How many fathers drying tears? Of mum's who've lost their little dears? A newborn's life for that new suit? A mother's breast for a pair of boots? Grandpa's wisdom exchanged for beer WHAT DOES IT TAKE to make you hear?! For every box that idles by We make our choice to let them die How much more selfish can we be? Let's damn them all to eternity. "Electric bill is way to high". So let another victim die. "I want to drive a nice new car." Who cares of those whom cancer's scarred? Little do I ask of you You know that which you need to do. All that a hero needs to say. "I built another box, today." -relic
A tribute to my teenage son, a DCer and a great man. I'm proud of you. The Hand Stands a man in defiance. Jaw set with resolve. One among billions, what can he alone solve? In a can by the sink He stashes each night The money he's saved for his cause, for the fight. A few coins at a time Or a dollar or two It's may not be much But it's all he can do Then one day he spys Anothers hand in the can Not to take any out But to put some more in. A teenage boy With a heart made of gold. Says "I want to help." "I want my Dad to grow old" He shied from the glory Hid his kindness from all A good cause his motive, Heard and heeded the call Few things more humbling Then realization which comes When a dad is outshone By the light of his son -relic
A sharing of the despair of a personal loss. Many will understand. ------------------------------ A darkened room A corner of the floor There, in placidity I sit and reflect. The space vacant Dust dancing in a stray shaft of light, my only companion. I search myself Seeking answers No emotions I can not find how I feel. You are gone. I contemplate "forever" Such a simple word for such import No anger, no sadness You asked for neither I am hollow. Hours pass Mostly void. Brief, fiery moments of blinding, raging fury Then nothingness Creeps in sorrow I could have done without sorrow. There seems no end to the silent tears Hours pass My dusty playmates fly Each memory of you another teardrop In vivid recollection Your face leaps into focus As always; smiling, laughing Please, please . No more Sobs, no longer silent I stare at empty hands that will never again hold you, And watch tears fall through my fingers Perhaps the emptiness was better? To there I retreat. And watch the dust dance Where is my strength? Always I have endured. Unflappable, no longer This too shall pass. This too shall pass A mantra repeated Hours pass. Silence is thick and heavy. I speak a timid "Goodbye" Scarcely audible, It is the best I can do. Croaked unintelligibly, In a whisper I tried to be stronger But no more voice can I find I will try again Gathering all the fortitude I possess I stand and breathe. Focus strength I utter the words. In death could you hear them? For, with every ounce of effort, I could muster no more that a feeble whispering. "I love you." "Goodbye" Untitled -relic
'Til death do us part. Nay, not e'en then You'll endure in my heart 'Til I meet you again. Eyes closed deny tears Yet they come all the same As the wind in the leaves Softly whisper your name I am who I am Through your counsel and tending Now with iron resolve And with patience unending... I shall battle the monster Who has stolen away This piece of my heart Where you've always stayed. -relic
Just call me Mr. Average Nothing special, just a man Hard work by day, and daddy at night One of millions throughout the land. Each night my boys come running to greet me at the door. A prouder man you've never seen, Nor one who loves them more. So can you really wonder Why I say the things I do? Why I spend my hard-earned dollar On a DC box or two? For a better life for little Ben or great-big brother Drew... These best young men I've ever known, Deserve the best that I can do. "Just a Dad" -relic
We do this for them Those yet to be born We do this for those Whose memory we mourn We do this for mom Who is counting her days We do this for children Who are too weak to play We do this for those who can't do for themselves We do this with honor and take pride in ourselves I do this for you and you do it for me For those future times We cannot foresee. We never shall falter We shall never forget. Our enemy, disease, Shall not go un-met Though our warriors are silent and our battlefield unseen Our resolve is as real as any soldier's should be Toward a day without sorrow Toward a life without pain Toward a world where the best and the worst...are the same. -relic
Dragon Slayers I heard a friend speak, his tone betraying, Born too late for dragon slaying, No gleaming armor shining brightly, Maidens rescued, feasts done nightly, Steel swords singing, battles fought, Knowing what your deeds have wrought. No more battles fought with valor? Dragons gone, what does it matter? You speak wrongly friend of mine, We fight the Monsters of Our time. The clash of steel, the battle cry? We have to watch our loved ones die! Throw the gauntlet, sound the horns, Cancer waits for our unborn, Heed the call, take up the cry, Let's not let another die! We fight with boxen, crunching, humming, Against desease the [H]orde is comming. We rally [H]ard, we stand as brothers, Cancer laughs and takes another. Dragons gone? Not quite my friend, We have yet to see the end. Our battles are the harder now, No concrete answers tell us how, This blight to end we are committed, Defeat is not to be admitted. Rally round, heed the call, The Dragons back is to the wall, We will not quit, there's no surrender, It kills our loved ones, we remember. -Gaiden
We heed thy call We stand the ground This mighty dragon Is coming down We stand together We stand as one Until the battle Is finally done We battle strong We fight our best with the [H] upon our chest The dragon will fall and will be sweet NO SURRENDER NO RETREAT! -JKstang
The dragons fire is hot no doubt Though hell not live throughout this bout Ill fight him gnashing tooth and nail Hell not pierce this [H]oly mail Each link and ring forged with spite Against the devils darkened might I fight daily to cease his flames To revenge all those he has maimed I will not die during this battle Until I hear his death rattle Although his death he will protest We will be through with this ungodly pest My machines, they scream!!! in scorching pain Overclocked to the HILT! and back again Cooler weather is very near Dragons flesh they hope to sear When one falls in battle it is replaced To find dragons blood to spill and taste Through sweat and strife We fight with [H]onor To save our sons if not our daughters The day is done yet Im not through The fight Ill continue beside my crew -Darkeone
A Hero's soul called Draggone Bane By good king's behest, hence he came Pure of heart and kind of soul To banish demonspawn, his goal Awesome visage, borne of might Bringst hence mighty thews to fight Glinting steel edge flashing bright A vanquished foe, o' glorious sight Though even heroes age and pass Spirit lives and and honor lasts To spring forth heroes of today A hero's soul to join our fray -relic
Our faith rings true Our hearts neer failing While trying to cure those Suffering and ailing Our WUs overdue Our Boxen overheating The disease we fight Will never forget this beating We buy, then we build More Boxen for our guild To destroy the one For the many caskets he filled With neon and chrome we honor thy boxen Shiny and sexy but numbers a rockin Our families, friends might neer understand Why we build, crunch and fold Throughout this great land By dawns early light will the [H]orde stand Side by side one another From snowy mountains to desert sands Our shield the [H] shines proud and gleaming Our motto and creed forever will be ringing -Darkeone
The dragon roars flexing a limb, And takes another upon its whim. It takes a soul and leaves a heap, Resting secure within its keep. The warriors that charge in haste, Lay strewn upon the floor, a waste. No blade or brawn can kill this beast, Nor keep it from its ghastly feast. The dragon sated rests supine, and hears a shrill and distant whine. It has no need to quake in fear, For the distant machines do not come near. They sit instead, through night and day, And ponder how to join the fray. Not in a fierce and bloody fight, But simply by increasing light. The light of knowledge, the might of wonder, Shall rip the fearful beast assunder. And so the boxen strain and test, While mortal men apply their best. As a candle on a dark night lit, Each of us contributes a little bit. As each bit joins with thousands more, A light is cast upon the door. And when the light becomes the key, The dragon shall see its enemy. The families and friends that remain, Driven by sorrow, rage, and pain. No single warrior, no heroic knight, An army of thousands win the fight. Not gifted with battle skills divine, But willing to say "We draw the line!" The dragon flinches as in pain, From a faceless foe it can't explain. The dragon's walls willl tumble down, Upon the day a cure is found. And so the boxen hum and think, Searching for the elusive link. To shed some light, to find a key, To do their part for humanity. I pay the bills to make them hum, A small amount, a modest sum. And with each day I offer a prayer, To one day be a dragon slayer. -Chugiak
The Dragon rears it's scaley head, Insatiable, hungry, it wants fed. Glowing eyes scan the crowd, Soundless roar, yet too loud. That one will do nicely says he, Say goodbye, no time for pleas. Another valiant warrior dies, He had no chance, the children cry. One more dead, we were too late, The Dragon's taught me well to hate. I seethe and rage upon his grave, He was compassion, died so brave. He lived his life like very few, Helping everyone he knew. In times of war, he fought with valor, Medals decorate the funeral parlor. If we found the cure at noon, It could not be at all too soon. In memory of my Uncle, he was a good man, I already miss him. -Gaiden
The BEAST is here And IT feeds on our fear As IT devours our loved ones And those we hold dear IT hears not our cries Ignores anguished pleas As IT turns on us all To inflict IT's disease To the future we look Though not open as a book Til the day we avenge All the lives that IT took Through this darkness, this blight We struggle, We fight Keeping our aim focused Our goal in sight Until the day IT shall turn and flee Amidst joyous shouts, tears and glee Let within each of us, [H]ard Brothers A desire burn To fight on for eternity For the cure we yern! In memory of loved ones lost and the hope for loved ones yet to be saved.... -ByteDown[H]ard
Dragon Slayers, we all might be, Together, as a team, for humanity. The task is hard, It takes not one or two, But with strength in numbers, Our thousands will do. For the dragon is a mighty beast. A foe that's not slowed in the least. We must stand tall, proud, Donning our battle shroud. For if we are to prevail, In our quest, We must be put forth Our very best. So draw your swords, Mighty brethren, We must make haste, To fight the dragon. Through this poem, I do converse, Though it's really, Only one verse. For my voice, Is one and alone. But it has been joined by you, Hope be known. Together we make a chorus of voices, Thundering like waves on the shore. Each contributing his part, Striving to do much more. For the battle we fight, is great, We must for now trust, in fate. So keep those boxen crunchin', We'll find the cure and stop at nothin. Prepare for battle, my friends, We won't stop, until it ends. -Medieval
Close To Home Well, I have some bad news, my mother called me tonight. She told me that she has breast cancer. She did tell me they caught it early and she will have surgery on Tuesday to remove the lump. We won't know until Friday if it has spread any further. If it hasn't she'll take a pill for 5 years. If it has, then they wil do radiation therapy. Either way it sucks.... Here are my thoughts right now: Well, that fucking beast is bold, It has decided to take hold, On my mother, that son of a bitch, Now isn't this rich. The timings all wrong, as I'm without power, Why now? I could not be any lower. So the beast needs to pick a fight? With one of so little might? For my mother has cancer, luckily it's small, But what if it were worse? ...would she fall? So I ask of you, the brethren of the [H]orde What have you got? Are we mice or lord? Time to bring down the hatchet, chop the head off the beast. For if we are to win, we must not be intimidated in the least. I say its time for a thrust, a stab for the heart. I'll use what I have, although it's a small part. Times a wasting as we bitch and we moan, Over life's small things we groan. Bigger things are here to take our lives. Will you help to save children and wives? So I've done a big part in the past, But for me it didn't last. My faith in you I have cast, May we kill the beast now at last. -Medieval
I ready myself to continue the fray and am reminded again of the price we pay The tears we shed for loved ones lost our souls are torn such is the cost The dragon feasts upon the bones and hears not our anguished moans Our pleas for mercy go unheeded the Dragon rages unimpeded We carry on championing the cause of wresting the innocent from Dragons Jaws So send forth you all uncountable prayers God bless the Quest of the Dragon Slayers -ByteDown[H]ard
In waning twilight a lone figure leans into the merciless winds of the steppes, the bitter cold biting through his threadbare cloak and ragged boots. Encroaching darkness softens his gaunt, war-weary visage, but it cannot hide the determination in his stride. The tattered edges of his cloak snap and flail with every gust, revealing battleworn armor, much repaired. In scarred hand he carries the tool of his trade. A battered sword shines with the gleam of well-kept steel that cannot hide the wear of a thousand battles. With a stare as icy and piercing as the frigid winds, he surveys the desolate landscape, spying minute clues to the passing of his enemy. His nemesis, the slayer of his kinfolk, covers his tracks well. A hint of a smile briefly flashes as he examines the faint scratches on a rock left by a giant steely claw. He has not lost his foe. For years the warrior and his like have pursued this dealer of indescriminate death, slayer of old and young. Without riches, unprovisioned, supported by only their own wits, they have hounded their enemy. Victory is scarce for this wretched band of ragtag heroes. Hope is feeble provision, honor a thin cloak, but it will suffice. There shall not be respite for their adversary, no place of rest nor comfort. Though each warrior sacrifices of himself, it is for the greater good of all they struggle onward. Warriors... Heroes... Brothers... Wrap you torn cloak about you. Face the bitter winds and march on. Raise your sword arm high and shout defiance The [H]orde cometh... -relic
Wishing you all A [H]appy Holiday 'Twas the night before Christmas, and downstairs in the dark The farm silently crunches, sans complaint or remark. In a small pool of light, tools scattered about. Sits a lone man determined to win the next bout. Upstairs two young men work by tiny flashlight They snuck out of bed after dad said goodnight. With screwdriver in hand they would toil 'til morn. To finish the gift for those yet to be born. When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter, I sprang from my desk to see what was the matter, Away to the window I flew like a flash, Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash. The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below, When what to my tired eyes should appear, But a carload of [H]ers bearing boxen and beer. They formed up a line and lifted an [H] banner, And marched to the door with screwdriver and spanner With boxes of parts, friendly smiles and cheer. I knew that the [H]eroes had just made it here. Now Mike, now id01, now killer, and Kurtz On Jedi and Rumble, Medieval and Rusty As they all settled in for a long night of "D" They laughed and they joked through the box building spree. As the dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly, Parts flew into boxen as the morning drew nigh And just as the sun chased the darkness away The [H] was asleep amidst the boxen they lay. A bright shaft of light, to begin a new morn Streams into the room where the boxen were born Voices from on far whisper "thank you so much" As each hero in turn felt the warm friendly touch -relic
I fold, I fear, I watch friends die. I hope, I pray, I get high. I see the day, I see the night, I beg for more, to join the fight. edit: removed sig
Alzheimer's was the doctor's refrain My mother left the world in bedridden pain My father stood by her until the end when at last in heaven, clear minded she would lend her voice to the saints that cry out to me "There is a cure, FIND IT!" was their plea. So now the boxen are folding like mad To find the cure I wished she'd had to end it's grasp, to search with a fine-toothed comb my boxen are folding, folding@home edit: removed sig
As you may all guess by "Jester The Frog" I'm a Folding Frog , Just registered here to pay a small tribute to Relic (again, remember "Jester" from Ocau) read all the verse Relic posted at Ocau, and a little while later moved to my current team, but still dropped in now and then to keep up with Relics musings, some thought provoking enough for me to take a time out, to stop and look around, to take stock of what is imortant. And so was born "time To Reflect", a thread similar to this one, which in no small part was inspired by Relic, So as a simple thank-you, one small verse: Folding on. So another week over, a few more Wu's to the score, thinking and planning, how to fold a few more, another machine in the pipeline, would sure help the fight, have to consider the cost, with a budget that's tight, the costs may be high, to keep folding on, but the rewards are so great, if we can save only one, One mother of a child, who can't understand, where mummy has gone, we must lend a hand, One husband and father, the loss is so great, to the family left behind, we must concentrate, One innocent child, the chance to grow old, taken away, how can we not fold, so, fellow folders, the costs may be great, but not folding at all, I will not contemplate. Thanks again Relic for your words from the heart, You are an inspiration to all. Fold On Brother Folders.
Welcome Jester. I left you a little note back at your home forum. Thank the frogs for me. Here's a quote so that the [H] folks don't have to hunt for it. Written in honor of Jester and the folding frogs in recognition of their contributions to the cause. -relic Ancient Heroes' Lore A future's ode to past heroes. Come hither children, I've a story Full of heroes of word and deed. Ago many years, they lived and fought, Still their legacy we reap They slew the dragons of their time With arms built by own hand with own coin, paid the war-tithe Banished our foes from our lands They called themselves "the folders" They were many thousand strong They battled enemies you've never known For those enemies are gone. If you read the tomes of history You might see the word disease A vicious unrelenting foe No one man could appease Thence came to us the folders Souls of mettle, fierce of heart Though they'd never reap the bounty which to us they did impart. Hence the legendary folders Kept alive the heroes' lore To bring us to this modern age When illness is no more.
I'll fold through the day and long into the night.. Knowing that cause deep in all our hearts we know that we must fight, fight, fight!!! With every hour, minute, and day we all spend folding we help save a life, and eventually cure for dread for disese.. edit: removed sig
I fold b/c I don't like wasted cycles, a computer should always be busy, that way it won't have time to evolve AI and take over the world....like in that one movie. Just kidding, I do it for the chicks! <hides deep-seeded pain under veil of humor>
I fold because I might have mad cows disease. I was living in Ireland during the initial outbreak or whenever it started becoming a big deal. I'm actually forbidden to donate blood indefinitely until some policy somewhere changes. Don't let the mooadness take me, fold you fools!
I started to fold for fun (& a gmail account)... I continued borging for sport (down with the Aussies!)... I now want to help stop a disease that my family has thankfully been spared from (at least in my lifetime)... I started for the wrong reasons, but got sucked in by all the right ones!
My family has had every kind of cancer imaginable, I just had a tumor removed from my neck 2 months ago, and my girlfriend has diabetes. I borg every machine I touch. Anything I can do to help.
Like many others, I started mostly for fun. Tody, folding has become much more personal to me. No one should ever have to loose a friend like this. Last Fri she had her first dose of chemo. We took her home and she seemed a lot better than when we first took her to the vet. She was eating again and even chased her ball a couple times. (tennis balls were her favorite thing in the world) She was really weak, but was in high spirits. On Mon she started not eating again and didn't even want to get up. I took her back to the vet and they figured she just had another infection from having a weak immune system. They gave her an IV and some antibiotics and they kept her overnight. Tues morning I got a call from the vet saying I should come in right then and that she was not doing so hot. With the baby, I managed to get there about an hour later. They told me she died 15 min before I got there. I'll tell you what, I've had many pets die before and as sad as it was, I got over it pretty quickly. Loosing Misty is going to hurt for a long time though. She had more personality, intelligence and the sweetest disposition of any dog I've ever seen. Loosing her to me is a lot like loosing my first kid. I'm not even sure it's sunk in yet as I keep expecting her to be laying at my feet waiting by the door when I walk in the door. I actually walked into the kitchen like I've been doing almost every day for the past 5 years and almsot put her food in her dish which I can't quite yet bring myself to get rid of. God damn this sucks.
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