POETRY JAM - BROKEN

“Doctoring her seemed to her as absurd as putting together the pieces of a broken vase. Her heart was broken. Why would they try to cure her with pills and powders?” - Leo Tolstoy

For this week, Poetry Jam has selected the theme of “Broken” in order to inspire the participants of the poetic challenge.

In Japan, when an object is mended, the damaged part is highlighted by decorating it with precious metal. The presence of the flaw highlights the history of the object, with its value and beauty perceived as being greater than before. We too can repair ourselves and wear proudly our scars, as if they are adorned with gold. Here is my offering:

Closed for Renovations

My heart is closed for renovations:

Your residence therein

Was somewhat indelicate,

And much needed be done

To make it habitable once again.

I’ve left my heart vacant, for now:

Following your eviction,

The cracks in its walls will be repaired,

Fresh coats of paint applied

And a new colour scheme chosen.

It is a barren place, my heart:

Since you left, you left it empty –

Save for your rubbish, cast-offs,

And your unwanted lumbering baggage

That none would want, not even me, now.

It’s worse for wear and tear, my heart:

But I’ll mend it and renew it,

Recondition and repair it.

And this time around, I’ll be more careful,

I won’t give it away for free…

My freshly painted, remodelled heart,

Is now for sale; not for rent, nor to be given away –

Sold, as paint jobs are expensive and renovations costly.

My heart is more precious now,

An old thing broken and repaired

Is more beautiful than a thing brand new.