“Someone I loved once gave me a box full of darkness. It took me years to understand that this too, was a gift.” ~ Mary Oliver
He Gave Me Nothing
He gave me nothing—
wrapped in Egyptian cotton
and luxuriant silk,
but nothing all the same.
wrapped in Egyptian cotton
and luxuriant silk,
but nothing all the same.
I took it from him
and poured it into
my thirsty lips.
and poured it into
my thirsty lips.
It did not slake my thirst,
but this, too, was a gift.
but this, too, was a gift.
He gave me nothing—
less than darkness
certainly less than love
and affection.
less than darkness
certainly less than love
and affection.
I took it from him
and wrapped it around
my lonely hips.
and wrapped it around
my lonely hips.
It did not warm my skin,
but this, too, was a gift.
but this, too, was a gift.
He gave me nothing—
emptiness heavy
like air
like smoke
like desire,
but empty all the same.
emptiness heavy
like air
like smoke
like desire,
but empty all the same.
I took it from him
and fed it to
my hungry heart.
and fed it to
my hungry heart.
It did not satisfy,
but this, too, was a gift.
but this, too, was a gift.
He gave me nothing,
but a gift all the same;
still I carry it.
but a gift all the same;
still I carry it.
~
Author: Toby IsraelImage: @tobyintheworld on InstagramEditor: Sara Kärpänen
Copy Editor: Khara-Jade Warren
Copy Editor: Khara-Jade Warren
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