I give you this poem.
One river gives
Its journey to the next.
We give because someone gave to us.
We give because nobody gave to us.
We give because giving has changed us.
We give because giving could have changed us.
We have been better for it,
We have been wounded by it—
Giving has many faces: It is loud and quiet,
Big, though small, diamond in wood-nails.
Its story is old, the plot worn and the pages too,
But we read this book, anyway, over and again:
Giving is, first and every time, hand to hand,
Mine to yours, yours to mine.
You gave me blue and I gave you yellow.
Together we are simple green. You gave me
What you did not have, and I gave you
What I had to give—together, we made
Something greater from the difference.
–Alberto Ríos, “When Giving Is All We Have,” from A SMALL STORY ABOUT THE SKY by Alberto Ríos © 2015 Copper Canyon Press.
One reply on “#8 decembrance 2024”
Catherine, Thank you giving us such a beautiful piem to think about during this season! It was a true gift at a challenging time! I needed that at this time!! Thanks and hugs to you and Warren!!