Gregory Richard Barden Poet Free verse

Notes About The Poem

Kintsugi - Mended With Gold

Broken, this aged vessel
fractured by fate in matter and mind
careworn and cracked like creeping veins of window frost ...

          (but colder in my solitude, I surmise)

Oh, but wholly blessed on the surface, really
no furrows or folds or wrinkly crows
hardly a dozen gray hairs, but for goatee' ...

          (winter taking hold there, evidently
          the once fiery and fervently experienced lips
          put to the frigid air of the disinterested and forsaken)

Too proud, really, that I look twenty years my lesser
for it reaps naught but envy ...

          (when I yearn for naught but love)

Yes, the porcelain facade still reflects the sun
but ONLY that, then back to whence it came
the warmth seeps not, and oh the splintered shell within
shards as sharp and crimped as British wit
whether by bent or happenstance or horrid folly ...

          (they are as defined as they are hidden
          as black as they are white
          as cursed as they are blessed)

A hundred and more, they are a memory, each
a pain, a tragedy, a misstep, a ravaged heart given fully
returned with but a wish and a wave
but you see, those cracks and breaks and chips
all carefully mended ... with gold ...

          (caring friends, exquisite joys, profound experience, loving family
          hope, faith, renewed self-respect, and a million little things
          that may pass others unnoticed
          but to me, are the lifeblood of existence)

They fill the seams with the most wonderful precious metal
and that broken, shattered soul is healed
made whole by what is truly valuable and lasting
far more formidable and beautiful and priceless ...

          (with the wisdom of breakage and healing
          and all the myriad lessons learned in the process)

Than it ever was ...

          (than I ever was)

Before.





Submitted on April 4, 2020
To the "Strand Choice Z, Any Form, Any Theme" Poetry Contest
Brian Strand, Sponsor.

( For those not familiar with the ancient Art of Kintsugi, please take a moment to check it out - it represents a model for life that is very special - strengthening through adversity. Here's a link: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kintsugi )

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Charles Messina September 19, 2018 at 2:51 PM Beautifully written Greg, as always your poetic hand. Love this! Gregory Richard Barden September 28, 2018 at 1:56 AM That's very kind, Charles, and I'm so pleased you enjoyed it - blessings, friend! :-)

John Hamilton September 19, 2018 at 1:57 PM The title makes a difference, I remember reading this with the other title, now you will get the views this gem deserves, brilliant poetry Greg!! Gregory Richard Barden September 28, 2018 at 1:56 AM Many kind thanks to you, John, I so appreciate it! :-)

Kim Rodrigues September 19, 2018 at 4:56 AM So lovely! A fave for sure, dearest Greg! I could read this many many times! Gregory Richard Barden September 28, 2018 at 1:55 AM That's very kind of you, Kim, thanks so much, my friend! :-) <3

Silent One September 19, 2018 at 3:50 AM Great analogy in your poem Greg... Expressed wonderfully.. Gregory Richard Barden September 28, 2018 at 1:55 AM Thank you so much, Silent One - much appreciated!