Kintsugi
The Artisan stops
Steps back to admire his work
His gaze upon me
Black ceramic bowl
Lacquer sheen fills me with pride
This body of clay
Felt down to my core
The artisan’s love and care
Wonderfully made
Here, I feel secure
My shape, my sheen, and my shine
One word: Masterpiece
What is this? A crack?
A small splinter in my side
Where did it come from?
There. I see the source
A boy. My best friend. And now
I watch as he leaves
With him goes laughter
Memories and good times, too
I’m quiet, alone
It’s okay. Really!
It’s barely noticeable
Can’t even see it
Crack. Oh, no. Again?
I see it beside the first
Larger than before
Unrequited love
You can’t blame me for trying
Thought she could be mine
High school. We were young
Held on to this crush four years
Her studies came first
Okay, not too bad
What’s another crack to me?
Shouldn’t have said that…
A chip in my rim
The college I had desired
Unaffordable
Confusion sets in
I look to the Artisan
Does he see the cracks?
Crash! Ow! That one hurt
Half of me is in pieces
A lesson defiled
I drew close to her
My first in many a thing
Happiness renewed
Not even two months
Different love languages
She did not like touch
Yes, I tried to change
But there was not enough time
Thought I grew from this
Fast forward five years
Vising old friends. Sisters
They thought they told me
They saw her with him
She did like touch. Just not mine
Lesson, side, shattered
Anger. Sadness. Fear
I barely notice. New crack
What could this one do?
Found it in my base
Now the whole world is shut down
Virulent outbreak
Isolated. Crack
Job opportunities: Gone
Crack. Crack. Crack. Crack. Crack
My sheen is all smudged
Can’t see me from the debris
My lacquer, faded
I am broken. Crushed
The proud black bowl in pieces
Tell me: What’s my worth?
The Artisan comes
I hide my pain and my shame
Defective product
Crucible ignites
Fair. I’d get rid of me, too
He pours gold, not me
I watch as it melts
A balm worth more than rubies
Atop the workbench
Nostalgic hands take me
My pieces stacked together
The cracks sealed with gold
I don’t deserve this!
I am broken. Useless. Trash
It’s wasted on me
“Your cracks have purpose
Alone, you can do nothing
Let me shine through you”
I look at my cracks
The gold brings out something new
My life redefined
A friend I once lost
Replaced by much stronger men
True friendship kindled
The love for one girl
Once selfish and self-serving
Serves others by choice
Patience prepared me
For the proper transfer time
College life enriched
Fear of betrayal
Soothed by a new loving hand
And tender kisses
From pandemic’s ash
Came stories, inspiration
And a dream come true
Gold stand out from black
Imagination surpassed
Good things bowls can’t cry
I have been made whole
By my Artisan’s true love
My life, his story
Break, repair, make new
This is the golden parable
Of the Kintsugi