I gave,
to a friend that I care for deeply,
something that I loved.
It was a small

extremely shapely bone
that came from the ear
of a whale.
It hurt a little

to give it away.
The next morning
I went out, as usual,
at sunrise,

and there, in the harbor,
was a swan.
I don't know
what he or she was doing there,

but the beauty of it
was a gift.
Do you see what I mean?
You give, and you are given.

~ Mary Oliver