For the New Year, 1981 by Denise Levertov

I have a small grain of hope

one small crystal that gleams

clear colors out of transparency

 

I need more

 

I break off a fragment to send you

please take the small grain of

a grain of hope

so that mine won’t shrink

 

Please share your fragment

so that yours will grow

 

Only so, by division

will hope increase

 

like a clump of irises

which will cease to flower

unless you distribute

the clustered roots, unlikely source –

clumsy and earth-covered –

of grace

 

Denise Levertov  “Making Peace”