The Bottomless Vessel Poem by Martins Akhoeneto

Generosity without boundaries
is self abandonment dressed as grace.
You cannot keep others from thirsting
by surrendering your well.

Some vessels have no bottom.
Pour until your hands run dry;
they will not remember the water,
only the moment you withheld it.

Learn the difference between the thirsty
and those who watch you drain
your last drop to fill their cups.

Even a well must guard its depth
if it would survive the drought.
Not every thirst deserves your water;
not every need is yours to meet.

Give freely, but never so completely
that you become the thing you gave away.

By Martins Akhoeneto