(Anon adaptation of L Eiseley's "The Star Thrower", from Usenet)

As I walked along the seashore, this young boy greeted me.

He was tossing stranded starfish back to the deep blue sea.

I said "Tell me why you bother, why you waste your time this way?

There's a million stranded starfish; Does it matter, anyway?"

And he said:

"It matters to this one, it deserves a chance to grow.

It matters to this one, though I can't save them all I know.

Because it matters to this one, I'll return it to the sea.

It matters to this one, and it matters to me."

I walked into a shelter, the director greeted me.

She was helping Misty learn to trust, Misty was struggling I could see.

I said, "Tell me why you bother, why you waste your time this way?

Misty's only one of thousands, does it matter anyway?"

The director simply smiled and said:

"It matters to this one, she deserves a chance to grow.

It matters to this one, I can't save them all I know.

Because it matters to this one, I'll help her be what she can be.

It matters to this one, and it matters to me.