Richard Lamoureux | + Follow Poet |
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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.

Copyright © Richard Lamoureux | Year Posted 2023

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Eileen Manassian Date: 8/8/2025 2:04:00 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. Login to Reply

Gershon Wolf Date: 10/12/2023 8:00:00 PM Growth, from crises it sprouts. Good to see this maniacal ego rout! ~ gw Login to Reply Richard Lamoureux Date: 10/12/2023 9:42:00 PM Thanks for your visit Gershon.

Bill Baker Date: 10/10/2023 5:03:00 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 Login to Reply Richard Lamoureux Date: 10/11/2023 6:54:00 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 Date: 10/10/2023 10:13:00 AM I admire the lesson that your poem provides. Well done, Richard! Login to Reply Richard Lamoureux Date: 10/10/2023 10:21:00 AM Thanks Sotto. I appreciate your visit.

Juliet Ligon Date: 10/9/2023 5:55:00 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. Login to Reply Richard Lamoureux Date: 10/10/2023 6:36:00 AM Thanks for giving my poem consideration,

Laura Leiser Date: 10/8/2023 4:52:00 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! :) Login to Reply Richard Lamoureux Date: 10/8/2023 10:51:00 PM Blessings to you as well. Thanks for reading and commenting.

Tom Woody Date: 10/8/2023 9:47:00 AM Awesome poetic treatise on keeping our ego in check, regardless of the proficiency of our gift or talent. At least that's what I get from it. There is no photo attachment though. Did you delete it? Login to Reply Richard Lamoureux Date: 10/8/2023 10:51:00 PM You are spot on my friend.