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Kintsugi, by Sheila Wellehan

9/13/2018

4 Comments

 
Picture
Kenzan-style Dish with Bamboo Leaves, in the style of Ogata Kenzan (Japan). Edo period (1615–1868).
​Kintsugi
 
Living in dread takes a toll.
Fear turns every blue sky charcoal.
Death never gives up its patrol,
all we have is a fragile parole.
 
Fear turns every blue sky charcoal,
we use sacred scrolls as blindfolds.
All we have is a fragile parole –
hairline cracks shatter, explode.
 
We use sacred scrolls as blindfolds.
We mend broken pottery with gold
when hairline cracks shatter, explode.
We pray these precious wounds hold.
 
We mend broken pottery with gold –
death never gives up its patrol.
We pray these precious wounds hold.
Living in dread takes a toll.
 
Sheila Wellehan

Sheila Wellehan's poetry is recently featured or forthcoming in Forklift, Ohio; Menacing Hedge; San Pedro River Review; Tinderbox Poetry Journal; Whale Road Review, and elsewhere. She lives in Cape Elizabeth, Maine. Visit her online at www.sheilawellehan.com. 
4 Comments
Ann Graham link
9/13/2018 03:13:03 pm

Beautiful poem and a wonderful practice of repair that honors the cracks.

Reply
Sheila Wellehan
9/13/2018 08:12:13 pm

Thank you, Ann! I'm happy you enjoyed it.

Reply
Eleanor Gaetan
9/15/2018 12:02:02 am

Fascinating poem that keeps spinning in my mind. It's like a mobile, besides being a poem. Thank you, Sheila!

Reply
Sheila
9/16/2018 07:46:32 am

I'm delighted this poem struck a chord with you, Eleanor. It's a pantoum. Thank you for your kind words! : )

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