by Len Morse

Created on: September 28, 2007

In honor of Helium's first year, I present a series of rhymes, mirroring the traditional greeting card limerick concept. I thought this would be a slightly different (if not outright goofy) way to express my joy and gratitude (and yes, a little opinion) to every single member of Team Helium, from the CEO, advisers, and administrators to the engineers, developers, designers, marketers, and everyone else: You help provide a highly professional, easily navigable, slightly lucrative, and strongly communicative web site that champions the art of high-quality writing. You should be proud of one year of excellent development!

A Birthday Ode to Helium

On October eleven, of 2007,
You will certainly have incentive,
To formally celebrate your first annual date,
Of collecting the sharp and inventive.

After one full year of cranking the gear,
And developing community aid,
Your detailed plans have earned worldwide fans,
And made sure us writers are paid.

The intricate web site is soaring in flight,
As a fun and user-friendly tool,
Showing us channels, with buttons and panels,
Over which writers do drool.

You provide room for us writer to bloom:
Through reflections and research we thrive,
And the Leapfrogging breaks, to edit our mistakes,
When an article takes a rating dive.

The peer-rating scheme is most honest, it seems,
As raters' names we do not see.
Though met with some scorn, your H-Team has sworn,
That quality and fairness are key.

Every now and then, it's a challenge to pen,
For contests that emerge on some weeks.
Perhaps I'm too slow, or too busy to show,
I'm just one of the methodical geeks.

Those with strong feelings can debate to the ceilings,
After voting for one side with zeal,
But beware of the score: Sometimes there's more
Than just two sides to a deal.

Writers who are slick to get published quick,
Can move on to the Marketplace,
We check facts and type, without any gripe,
To unleash on magazine space.

The crowning of stars helps raise our bars,
And recognizes top raters and writers.
These cool little charms are upbeat alarms,
And we feel like battle-worn fighters!

The community boards are good for the hoards,
Of members who chat with each other.
But we're human creatures, and learn from our teachers:
Team Helium as a patient big brother.

And last but not least, is the financial beast:
The payment of earnings so true.
While none will get rich, (unless there's a glitch),
It inspires us to write something new.

So to those without pause, who work for the cause
Of Helium's literary height:
Happy Birthday to you. Please continue to do
That which allows us to write.

Learn more about this author, Len Morse.
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