Scattered All Around

"Fragments and crumbs of life, all the little pieces" John Ruskin, 1853 Scattered all around Scrambling to pick up the pieces Of what is left That was once whole Now shattered on the ground What once was beautiful Now broken and chipped away Desperate to find every piece In hopes of restoration Frantically searching Eyes darting everywhere Ignoring the pain As the shards cut As you seize each piece Even the most minuscule Clutching it ever so close As tears start to swell Chest begins to heave As panic sets in How could this have happened Failed to protect and guard Something so precious Only few ever find More valuable than gold Casting the illusion Of being untouchable Standing the test of time Safe and resistant Thus leading to distance Less guarding and sheltering Taking comfort in the safety Of letting go Only to see it topple over Like slow motion Fearfully reaching out Brushing fingertips But not quick enough Watching it descend Eyes wide No longer breathing Heart stopping Helpless now Ear-piercing As it shatters Into a million pieces Knees hitting the ground Awe struck Dumb-founded What once was treasured Lies hopeless and lifeless Even if all the pieces are found Carefully glued back together It will never be as beautiful Covered with cracks Never showing strength Only fragile and weak Telling the story of carelessness How one looked away Only for a brief moment Left vulnerable to the unknown Is now nothing more Than broken shards Glistening from tears In blood-stained hands By Shauna Riley 5/17/11 For A Rambling Poet's contest, "All the Little Pieces"