11/30/20 Workshop – A Poem by Alberto Rios

When Giving is All We Have – Alberto Rios

                                                    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.

 

Reflective Writing Prompt: We give because…

4 thoughts on “11/30/20 Workshop – A Poem by Alberto Rios

  1. Doris Lim

    Hi Tony and Ginny,

    Thank you for a very interesting session today. It is my first time attending a Narrative Medicine session. I found it to be very enriching and have certainly found it very informational. I really enjoyed the learning process introduced through this session. And…..

    “Meaning comes from the listeners, not from the author ”

    Love this phrase. Would be stored in my memory bank for sure.

    Thank you very much !!

  2. Armz

    Giving and Receiving feed each other like the symbol of Tao
    Remove the separation line it will turn Grey..
    The in-between is the game that we play
    Yet, Giving is a state of becoming..
    I say.. As One Gives One Becomes
    Then can we receive without Giving?…
    ‘When Life is a Gift’

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