A Gift from the Emerald Isle
Published July 27th, 2009 by Bob BurgOur good friend, award-winning Irish film director (and, not 100 percent coincidentally, the person who will be directing the film edition of The Go-Giver), the very lovely and enchanting Fiona Ashe sent us the following poem, written by a friend of hers, that epitomizes the natural flow of giving and receiving portrayed in the book.
The Weaver and the Fisherman
By William CooperThe fisherman was old and weary, his life being full of care;
His boat often leaked when out and his net would sometimes tear;
His catch was slim he thought, only enough to feed him for the day;
He knew he couldn’t fix his plight, so he folded his hands to pray.
By chance the weaver heard him, as he walked along the dock,
And during the night he weaved a net from the best he had in stock.
Then, taking some pitch, he patched up the fisherman’s boat,
Then tied it to a nearby post, using a brand new rope.
The fisherman awoke in thanksgiving as he surveyed his new net,
And when he saw his patched up boat, he got down on his knees and wept.
Time passed and eventually the weaver himself fell into great need
And, likewise folding his hands, in prayer he began to plead.
Raising up the next morning, what he found brought tears to his eyes:
Outside his door was a barrel with fish swimming inside.
Both characters gave purely for the pleasure of giving; both characters also willingly received. Both characters were people of action. Both characters added value to the lives of those they touched.
And I’ll bet our Go-Giver readers can come up with a bunch of other ways in which Mr. Cooper’s terrific words exemplify the spirit of the story.
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William Cooper, author on August 3, 2009
What a grand surprise to see my poem being shared with your visitors. I feel like the fisherman who is getting his net mended. Who knows how this go-giving will circle around with my chance to return the goodness to Mr. Burg, Mr. Mann and Fiona Ashe has extended to me with this kind act. Cheers! William Cooper, author, poet and friend in the making.
Bob Burg on August 3, 2009
Thank YOU, Mr. Cooper. I appreciate your allowing us to share your thoughts and wisdom. – Bob
Joyce Durham on August 3, 2009
The poem is beautiful and shows the best in people. Mr. Cooper has a special knack with words.
Fiona Ashe on August 3, 2009
What a wonderful poem, William. Thanks so much for sharing it with us.
Best wishes, Fiona.
Steve Sepessy on August 3, 2009
This peom, along with The Go Giver, should be in the library of every person who wishes to be a success in life. We teach our children to share in school, but most of us could use an adult refresher. For myself, this is just another gift I have received from others to help make the world around me a better place to live. I only hope that I can someday live up to the standard of giving, just for giving sake.
Thank You
Alice on August 3, 2009
There is a country music song (name and by whom forgotton, but I am sure someone will remember) which tells of a rich lady who needs a tire changed. This guy changes her tire free. She then stops in a diner where a very pregnant lady waits on her. The lady gives her a $100 bill to cover the meal then leaves before the waitress can give her the change. The waitress then goes home and gives the money to her husband who, of course, is the guy who changed the lady’s tire.