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Grief

Missing image

 



The flowerpot was a work of rare beauty.
Colorful but sophisticated,
Simple but elegant.
The work of a master.

 

One day, the pot fell and was shattered to pieces. 
Devastated, the owner almost threw it away
But he decided to try to save it instead.

With great love and patience,
He carefully fitted the broken pieces together again
And when he was finished, it appeared as if
The flowerpot had never been broken at all.
Only he knew that it had been repaired.
Only he knew of all the cracks
Just beneath the vibrant surface.
And it made the flowerpot all the more beautiful to him.

 

In fact, though the same size, 
It seemed to hold more flowers than before
And they inexplicably lived much longer
And gave off a stronger fragrance.

 

When his friends would visit, they would say
There was something different about the pot;
That it was even more interesting somehow,
Though none of them could understand why.

Author notes

For Patrice.

"The deeper that sorrow carves into your being, the more joy you can contain."  - Kahlil Gibran

The seed for this poem was provided by deercatcher's poem "Last Night" at allpoetry.com/poem/1551855  Check it out.  It's excellent!


Written December 1st, 2005

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Comments

1 - 33 of 33

  • AusStar gold member
    June 18

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    This is beautiful Mark, Someone could write a sermon based on this poem, I'll pass it on to the pastor of our church see if it inspires him. I felt the need to read some beautiful poetry today, so came to your page as a first stop.

  • amateurpoetess
    September 6, 2007

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    Astonishing!

    After spendning a long time away from this site, I came today again to recapture some poetic nurturing, and re-reading this poem, that you dedicated to a grieving friend. What a work of compassion and beauty, both. Some new tears to shed and old ones to tend. I know you can probably understand that.


  • Red Death
    January 22, 2006
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    Bravo!

    I like the story and the message of it a lot. It has a good moral to the story as well, it's a very beautiful poem.

  • Nephlim
    December 31, 2005
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    A beautiful poem, much a contrast to the other one of yours I read. And thank you for the correction on my spelling, it would have probably like stayed like that had i not read your comment.

  • queenie
    December 19, 2005
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    i,myself have felt like that flowerpot.i was broken but someone who really care deemed me worth putting back together and i have been better for it ever since.my value meter has risen because i exude the strength of being cared enough about not to be thrown away.this is so very profound.
  • Ir.muse
    December 19, 2005
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    It's a great lovely poem.Full of love and hope.
    Shahrzad

  • MagicLady silver member
    December 17, 2005
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    Much better. Wonderfully done.

    Cheryl


  • MoonsShadow gold member
    December 15, 2005
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    Mark this picture and your poem has so much beauty and thoughts
    entwined, love the respect of this piece soo much.. keep up the wonderful poetry..Linda

  • Grieving-Willow
    December 15, 2005
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    Wow, This is gorgeous, one of my many favorites from you. I love reading poems that you have written for another person, it makes it even more selfless and beautiful. This poem touched me deeply, but then again, when do I ever read a poem by you and not get touched by it? ... I hope to one day be half as talented as you are Love you! Sara

    BTW, I am bookmarking this!
    Edited on Dec 15 because 'forgot a sentence '.

  • Mark Rickerby gold member
    December 13, 2005
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    Thanks, Tammy. Actually, the picture came after the poem in this case. I hope all is well with you.

    Mark

  • deercatcher
    December 5, 2005
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    God uses cracked pots.
  • Catressa gold member
    December 5, 2005
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    It says to me that there is beauty even in those broken as well.. Those who think they are nothing don't see what we do.. The beauty of the human soul never fails to amaze me.. You as always captured it well..


  • heismysong silver member
    December 5, 2005
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    I must admit- there's an element of mystery in this piece to me, and yet I feel that I understand it, too. Well, I guess that's because my mind thinks in a "religious" spiritual realm... There are quite a few spiritual applications you can put on this. It also makes me think of a few personal life experiences.

    I guess, as a general comment, I liked it because the pot seemed to become more useful AFTER it was broken than before... as if the breaking was for a good purpose.

    I'm sorry, Mark, but I just GOTTA say this- God has a purpose for every sorrow we see or go through, even when we don't understand! There's a verse that says, "all things work together for good to them that love God"- all things could be good or bad things, but God can make anything good!

    Sorry- I just had to!

  • Mark Rickerby gold member
    December 4, 2005
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    Providence,

    "Life is what we make of it!
    So is loss..."

    Exactly. Well said.

    Thanks,

    Mark

  • Mark Rickerby gold member
    December 4, 2005
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    Hey Lou,

    Thanks for sharing your story about your friends. We can't help but be deepened by pain. The only thing that will prevent it is bitterness and giving up on life, which is often the case. For example, when someone dies shortly after their husband or wife does. People definitely can die of a broken heart. It happens all the time. But if we put ourselves back together and find the will to live again, we become an inspiration to others, what some people call a "being of light" showing others the proper way to live, and grieve. We do no honor to those we have lost by lying down and dying next to them, whether the death is physical or just spiritual.

    Thanks again for your kind words. I hope you're doing well.

    Mark

  • Mark Rickerby gold member
    December 4, 2005
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    I'll look forward to it.

    Thanks,

    M

  • heismysong silver member
    December 3, 2005
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    Just wanted to let you know that I really liked this one... I might come back and comment on this again, when I have more time to expound!

  • loualoui
    December 3, 2005
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    What a beautiful and well thought out piece this is Mark, and so aptly titled. I have 3 close friends, who have endured terrible grief; two who were widowed suddenly and another who has tragically lost two of her teenage children in separate incidents. The idea of the beautiful pot falling and smashing unexpectedly is a great metaphor of how each of these friends lives were suddenly and unexpectedly shattered by their tragic losses, and the line about how the pot was so nearly thrown away represents how each of them so nearly lost the will to carry on in their initial grief.
    For two of these friends the bereavements are much too recent to relate to the last three stanzas of your poem, but for my one friend, who lost her husband 7 years ago, I can certainly relate. She has definitely grown and changed in inexplicable and wonderful ways as she has gradually pieced her life back together, little by little.

    Yes indeed, this is a wonderful and insightful write Mark. You have a great talent!

    ~ Lou..xx

  • Mark Rickerby gold member
    December 2, 2005
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    Fool no 1,

    You captured the essence of what I was trying to say perfectly. Thank you.

    Mark

  • Mark Rickerby gold member
    December 2, 2005
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    Thanks, Patrice. I'm so glad this made you feel a little better. I think what Kahlil Gibran said is true. Grief deepens us spiritually, and that depth makes it possible for us to appreciate all of life more, as long as we don't allow the grief to permanently disable us and we make the decision to live again in spite of, because of, or even in honor of our losses. I know you know what I mean. I think we have a special connection, too, because as you know, my mother also lost a son and I've witnessed first-hand what that can do to the heart and soul. Mothers always seem to suffer the most. No matter what any man says, the bond between a mother and child is the deepest of all, and a mother's love is the strongest kind of love in the world.

    Peace,

    Mark

  • getsbetter
    December 2, 2005
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    You did a beautiful job wiyh this poem Mark,the words you say here are so very true and wise. Great poetry, Getsbetter

  • fool no1
    December 2, 2005
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    This write has many meanings Mark.. For me it speaks of a life, any life that came upon hard times , heartbreak , tears.Though all may have seemed lost , with determination and love piece by piece it was all repaired . On the surface , appearing the same but somehow changed . We all gather our cracks and breakages on lifes journey...yet somehow we grow and learn and become a more knowledgable person. Excellent Mark... Thanks for sharing....Mal

  • sustaind
    December 1, 2005
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    awesome

    i thought i was the best,that poem made me think twice about my own creative writing,honestly it almost made this 28 year old cry,keep them coming,to me it represents what God can do in someones life when they accept him in there life

  • Providence
    December 1, 2005
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    Wonderful. I too cracked a flower pot. It was gold plated ceramic and beautiful. My angry only uncle never caught on but my and my sweet aunt had a life long secret!
    THanks for the memory of them. They have been gone a long time!
    Life is what we make of it!
    So is loss...
    Bravo!

  • faerieprincess
    December 1, 2005
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    Beautiful use of metaphors! Somehow everything old is new again.Yet better the second time around. Too bad people don't look at lines in another's face the same way. People just tend to see the lines(cracks) and not how much more abundant their wisdom or their hearts have become. Thank you for sharing this,I enjoyed it very much!
    fp ~;~

  • Whispering Winds
    December 1, 2005
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    its amazing how you can take a picture and write something so wonderful as this. Sorry i have not read you lately. I have been very busy. And i can see I chose the perfect one to start with. This was a very refreshing and great write.
    Thanks for sharing this with us. I love the pic!
    Much love,
    Tammy

  • Marissa Ann Scott
    December 1, 2005
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    well done!

    I have read that the best way to love someone is to gently run your finger over thier soul, find the cracks and pour my love in. (I read it in one of the Chicken Soup bks actually) lol! The value that this flower pot held for the owner was it's beauty. And truly, it lost none of the colour or artistry that it had previously been endowed with when it broke. One gluing it back together, the owner just added a bit more to it.

    I often say many of what we consider physical faults as well are simply the miles that show on our tires My knees are blackened and probably will be forever, simply because I have knelt before God in prayer a lot. I'm a little too plump by supermodel standards, but I don't mind... it's testimony that I'm a pretty good baker lol etc.

    This poem was subtle and beautiful. I liked the way it was crafted, very smooth. No jutting egdes. A comfortable and heartening read dear friend!

    Hats off to you for another poem well done!

    Marissa.

  • Maureen silver member
    December 1, 2005
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    When we love someone or something that is broken..our love creates something that is whole and beautiful.

    Loved your story/poem!

    ♥ Maureen

  • BrownEyedAngel
    December 1, 2005
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    Bravo..I loved this piece..it makes me feel all warm inside...and in my mind a painted picture...it's like you dont have to tell people what you have accomplished through hard work and love...but they can see it...because it hits people like a beautiful sunrise in the morning. Thanks for sharing.
    lots of love
    maryjane

  • Mark Rickerby gold member
    December 1, 2005
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    Actually, the master wasn't the owner. I probably didn't make that clear enough. Re. the "happy ending", I always like to try to twist things that way. There are too few in real life.

    Thanks,

    M

  • Mark Rickerby gold member
    December 1, 2005
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    Cool story! Being pregnant doesn't give her the right to be a snotty puss. lol Thanks, David.

    Mark
  • Ankeeta silver member
    December 1, 2005
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    First of all I think that the master was lilbit careless to let that flowerpot break but then reading the happy ending I wish that every flowerpot would be lucky to have a master like this one!!

  • dp robertson
    December 1, 2005
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    I went around to a neighbours house once to retrieve a tennis ball that flew over her fence during a match of back yard cricket. She had a plant that she was going to pot and noticed that it had been done-

    "I see its been potted!" I commented.

    She was eight months pregnant at the time as was not impressed

    Sorry, the story flooded back- couldn't find my tennis ball quick enough. Anyway, what I was about to say was a well told metaphor in a simple, eloquent manner is always going to be understood and absorbed. This is a good lesson!

    David
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