The giver (for Berdis) - James Baldwin

The giver (for Berdis) by James BaldwinIf the hope of givingis to love the living,the giver risks madnessin the act of giving.Some such lesson I seemed to seein the faces that surrounded me.Needy and blind, unhopeful, unlifted,what gift would give them the gift to be gifted?The giver is no less adriftthan those who are clamouring for the gift.If they cannot claim it, if it is not there,if their empty fingers beat the empty airand the giver goes down on his knees in prayerknows that all of his giving has been for naughtand that nothing was ever what he thoughtand turns in his guilty bed to stareat the starving multitudes standing thereand rises from bed to curse at heaven,he must yet understand that to whom much is givenmuch will be taken, and justly so:I cannot tell how much I owe.Support the showPoems are green and Poetry is mean. -Poetry Beast Please accept my endless gratitude,I'm tickled pink,You're a gift!Thank you for your time and attention.It's a blessing you've stopped to observe and listen.ADDITIONAL INFO: @thebaldheadedpoet | Linktree