From Within

The woman, retired,
speaking of grandchildren
while examining my arms,
kept saying It’s people
like you who show up and give
who say to the world—Do you see
what we have in common? What we
need from each other when in
a bad way? What we need
comes from within.

I kept thinking about that when
I could feel 36.9 degrees of crimson me
flowing over my tubed and taped arm.
I am always glad to know that feeling,
each time after I offer a finger for pricking,
testing, while answering questions.
Because I don’t remember what it felt like
to receive from someone else’s tithing of self.
I only know that I woke up,
freshly indebted to an unknown act of generosity.

The best we have to offer comes from within.

Kimberly M. King