Tuesday, October 16, 2018

OctPoWriMo 2018 Day 15: The Restorers

Today's theme, of something being an umbrella, was a lot of food for thought. I know it was supposed to be a 10 minute write, but I thought about it all afternoon because so many things can be both literal and metaphorical umbrellas (garbage bags, friends, all those things.)

For some reason the image of an umbrella being imperfect, leaky shelter in a storm kept churning about in my brain, and then in floated another image, of a mother who, imperfect as she is, protects her child like an umbrella until they can stand for themselves - and then the metaphor sort of gradually extended itself and turned into this.

In honour, love, and gratitude to all the different people who have been my forest of hands over so many years in the difficult seasons of my life.


DAY 15: THE RESTORERS

let me fix you he said
and took me apart      
left
me
in
p i         ec   e        s
saboteur masquerading
as mechanic

a nut a wheel a bolt
one piece at a time
different hands
joined me together again
made of my cracks a kintsugi mosaic

a forest of hands
               over hands
                       over hands
both near        
                and        far
forming over me
an imperfect umbrella
until each mended crack was dry
until I could stand whole
and build for myself
a shield


8 comments:

Esther Jones said...

This is beautiful. I love the imagery of the broken pieces coming together.

Shuku said...

Thank you so much Esther! I've been very broken over the years, and I am so grateful for all the people who have helped me put myself back together (even though I wasn't very cooperative).

ms_lili said...

you have me crying with this one

Shuku said...

Awwww thank you Jade! Huge hugs for you Jade. Suppotive people are true gifts and we all need them.

Elizabeth Boquet said...

Simply brilliant -- word choice, concept, spaces just right.

Shuku said...

Elizabeth!!! Thank you for visiting! I really have missed reading your poetry. I saw some absolutely lovely floral arrangements the other day and immediately thought of your garden.

Richa said...

This is beautiful!

Shuku said...

Thank you Richa! I'm glad you like it.