If You Are Hungry

If you are hungry and I give you something to eat, I feed us both.
If you are sick and I comfort you, I comfort us both.
If you are naked and I clothe you, I clothe us both.

If you are thirsty and I deny you water, I deny us both.
If you are weak and I strike you, I strike us both.
If you are cold and I strip you, I strip us both.

Your deficits offer me a chance to help us both.
If I don't take it, we both feel the loss,
but mine is the deeper pain.