Broken Pieces

Broken Pieces

There is a rare and beautiful vessel of pottery
Moulded and shaped to an exquisite piece of work
The potter’s loving hands have taken great care
To bring it to perfection.
It is smooth and colourful with just the right amount of glaze.
When the potter was finished 
he displayed it in his store
for his pleasure, 
and for all to admire.
He took great joy in his creation and enjoyed its glory. 
Until one fateful day…
A rather gregarious man came along
Inquiring as to its price.
The potter reluctantly agreed to sell it for an outrageous price.
As he let the lovely piece go out of his store,
He instantly knew this man was not worthy of the vessel.
He sorrowed and lamented,
wondering what had become of this fine piece. 

The undeserving man brought the work of art home
At first, he displayed it and admired it
In wonder of his great fortune 
to receive such a treasure.
He had an insatiable need to collect such rarities
He quickly grew bored and tired of the glorious vase
He went in search of another and then another
One day as he was moving his many acquisitions 
The pottery fell, crashing to the floor
It shattered in many pieces.
The outrageous man placed it carelessly in a box.
He needed to replace it with yet another,
So, he went back to the loving potter’s shop.
He plunked the box of broken pieces in front of him
“Can you fix it?”, he said 
The potter replied “no, some things cannot be fixed”
He left it in search of another.

Once the man had gone
The potter once again took each familiar piece in his hands 
and like a jigsaw puzzle set his heart to repair,
What seemed impossible!
Bit by bit, piece by piece with great love,
He tenderly and painstakingly 
put the pieces back together.
With great love the new piece 
was even more beautiful than before!
He used a very strong glue 
that would never allow it to break 
in such a fashion again.
It was better,
It was stronger,
It was more resilient,
Its beauty was breathtaking to the beholder.
It was so unique. 
Nothing could compare.
The potter would never allow 
an unworthy man to take it again.
It was  immeasurable in worth.
His love was so great for it
that he always protected it.
For you see, sometimes the potter allows
A vessel to be broken
He can and will rebuild and reshape
And fashion it to be  a priceless vessel
and of such great worth!
Like a phoenix rising out of the ashes
Far greater a purpose than its beginning.
The pain of the brokenness 
Forgotten by the newness of its transformation.

Grace Daub January 6, 2022
Entered in A Brian Strand Libre Vers contest by Brian Strand
Copyright © | Year Posted 2022

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Alex Avatar
March 11, 2022 at 9:19 PM
Pain of brokenness too is forgotten. Very beautifully written. Congratulations!
Daub Avatar
March 22, 2022 at 7:30 AM
Thanks for your kind comments! I very much appreciate!
Daub Avatar
January 10, 2022 at 5:19 PM
Thanks for your comments, much appreciated. thanks, Grace
Ahmed Avatar
January 10, 2022 at 11:13 AM
What a message! we can be more humane then we are, rebuild heart mind compassion, and become more worthwhile for family, society, humanity, for the world! This is one way to look at your poem Grace! Thanks - Marshall
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