Richard Lamoureux Poet Free verse

Maybe

I held my small beautiful thing in my hand
Precious pure perfection
Oh how it brought me joy
You asked me “May I see what you are holding?”
I responded “Of course my dear friend.”
You blissfully beheld its shimmering shine.

For a moment you were speechless.
I felt you understood.
I wrapped my small beautiful thing
Placed it carefully away
Sharing it with you made me feel special

Every day you asked me about it
I had hoped you would forget about it
You said “Such beauty should be shared with the world!”
I did fancy fame and fortune. 
I remembered how special I felt when I shared it with you.

My small beautiful thing grew
Somehow it changed
It was not itself anymore 
As my ego expanded
My inner self shrank
becoming small
Everything I had went to protecting my large beautiful thing
I could no longer hold it in my hand
Then one day, or should I say in the night
A stealthy stranger stole it
He hid it far away
It became small again
It prefers it that way
I cried and felt relief at the same time.
Without it I found my privacy
I felt myself graciously grow.
As days passed I thought 
“Maybe it was never really my small beautiful thing.”
In the end that’s okay.

Photo from ShutterStock.

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Eileen Manassian August 8, 2025 at 2:04 PM How did I miss this one? It's hard not to let ego get out of hand when praise is constant. I'm glad you don't let your talent get to your head! :) by the way... loved those two lines that had alliteration! Pure gold.

Gershon Wolf October 12, 2023 at 8:00 PM Growth, from crises it sprouts. Good to see this maniacal ego rout! ~ gw Richard Lamoureux October 12, 2023 at 9:42 PM Thanks for your visit Gershon.

Bill Baker October 10, 2023 at 5:03 PM A FAV, my friend. The ego is such a tantalizing thing to acknowledge. Each time it is acknowledged it grows ... It's the opposite of, "use it are lose it"; in reality, it's abuse it and you lose it! It can completely destroy a person and their value to mankind. It almost did in my life. Obviously, this one really resonates with me. Thanks for sharing, what can be, a life changing message with us readers. Have a great day! Bill Richard Lamoureux October 11, 2023 at 6:54 AM Much appreciated. My wife is Asian and in her culture humility is an important value. Myself being an introvert by nature, that resonates with me. Thanks for sharing your thoughts Bill.

Sotto Poet October 10, 2023 at 10:13 AM I admire the lesson that your poem provides. Well done, Richard! Richard Lamoureux October 10, 2023 at 10:21 AM Thanks Sotto. I appreciate your visit.

Juliet Ligon October 9, 2023 at 5:55 PM This was a mystery to try to figure out what that small beautiful thing was. I thought it was a ring, but as I read on, it seems it had to be something else. Then I read other's comments and re-read the poem. Creative work here. Richard Lamoureux October 10, 2023 at 6:36 AM Thanks for giving my poem consideration,

Laura Leiser October 8, 2023 at 4:52 PM What a fantastic moral lesson to be learned here in your creative and poetic metaphors, Richard. Thank you for sharing this important message with others. God bless! :) Richard Lamoureux October 8, 2023 at 10:51 PM Blessings to you as well. Thanks for reading and commenting.