I Said I'd Never Give My Heart Away Again

by Chris Patterson

It came out of the box
bright and shiny
smudgeless,
impenetrable,
unbreakable,
irreplaceable.

You held it, casually
in one hand while
the other reached
for its best friend.

Smudged now, darkness
accented the bright spots
that shone on the shadows,
chasing them out of the closet.

You thrilled to be lit up there
but weren't ready to leave
the cover of darkness.

You put it in the corner,
dusted off only on
certain occasions.
It's not practical.
Could be extravagant,
unusual or unique
this gift of my heart.

Tiny, hairline fractures
spider web across its
deep, red veneer.
That's how you found it,
like an Easter egg,
hidden in plain sight.

You placed it with reverence
on a satin pillow.
But glancing attentions replaced
the dedicated polish.
Now, restless in its shine,
it donned striking armor.

Catching your eye,
Damsel in Distress.
It brought you,
safely and securely
to the highest tower.
There, you could finally
turn your attentions to the prince
and let fall,
from that high wall the heart
strong enough to take you
there, its unbreakable armor
crushed and cracked.

Caution guided it
to you, bird of a feather.
Settled down in a soft,
familiar comforter,
untouched and insulated.

Still impenetrable,
that challenged you into
curious examination.
Soft caresses against
its hard, scarred lines.
From the inside, you
brightly shined it up
like brand new,
just out of the box.
Too bright,
too electrically charged
to be practical.
A beacon for all the world to see.
That created the dark wave
of fear to come crashing in.
This smashing, grinding force
of ignorance leaving pieces
of it strewn across the sand.

Fragments, reflecting sunlight
await collection by a patient,
curious beachcomber.
Who will put it back together,
box it up and preserve it
amongst the pictures of
memories.
A treasured gift,
given one more time
for posterity.

The Author

I was born in Elmira, New York and moved around to all the hot spots of the automobile industry growing up. After graduating from Michigan State University, I worked in Chicago as a writer/producer and director of local television and radio commercials and marketing videos for local companies. In 1995, I opened a bagel shop in Hilton Head, South Carolina. When that closed in 1999, I went to work for Walt Disney Company. I currently am a training facilitator at the Disney Reservation Center. I enjoy writing poetry, especially for my family and friends. You can find me on Live Journal as cap_killer.