Shatter

By Yeshaswini Srihari

They tell people to find beauty 

Even in what's broken

And I tell them that I refuse to. 

I tell them that I allow my words to heal 

I tell them that I have all the love to give 

I tell them that being broken is beautiful 

But putting yourself back together is more. 

This is not a trend of cracked skin 

To let the light in 

Because, god damn it, 

Your light comes from within. 

When you hear the glass shatter,

Darling please don't be afraid to look within 

Don't be afraid to discover that it is you 

Who is falling apart, instead 

Stitch yourself back together with needle and thread 

With love and with time and with patience. 

When you hear the glass shatter, 

Remember you are fragile. 

Remember that your pieces will break a little more, but never stay broken.

Remember exactly who you are, 

Because you are the one who knows this puzzle best. 

When you hear the glass shatter 

I don't want you to picture a vase

Which held flowers which died 

I don't want you to picture wine on the floor 

Mixed with the tears that you've cried

I want you to remember how you were made 

I want you to hold every piece of yours 

Firmly in your hands, feel your own touch 

And picture yourself whole, complete. 

You are even better than the pottery

That they fix with gold.

When you hear the glass shatter

I want you to remember how to breathe

I want you to be conscious of your heart beat 

I want you to feel every bone, from your heart to your feet,

And I want you to catch yourself before you reach the floor 

Before you shatter and break into more. 

The next time you hear the glass shatter 

Mould yourself into who you want to be. 

Your cuts and bruises will heal 

You'll slowly begin to feel 

And you will not be afraid to break again. 

And once you've put yourself back together 

You will be a vase always filled with life 

You will be the finest, fanciest glass of wine

And the best of all? 

You'll be the culmination of all the stories you've told, 

One filled with life, love, and emotion. 

Dear Fragile soul,

When you hear the glass shatter, 

I want you to believe 

That it's one of the greatest gifts you could receive 

And put yourself back together so that then

You'll never hear yourself shatter again.

By Yeshaswini Srihari