When Giving Is All We Have

When Giving Is All We Have

                                            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.

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.

~ Albert Rios