Pieces

In order to behold the painting

The contemporary artist after Christmas dinner must

Understand where the image was injured five hundred times

And delicately piece it together at the wounds

To take in the still beautiful yet fractured image

Of the puzzle.

In order to love an older being

After divorce, despair and abuse

The artist must

Patiently

Allow for a few places and spaces that will remain like missing pieces

In a life that once made sense

Before the puzzle 

Was shaken