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Alice Walker

Alice Walker

I Will Keep Broken Things

I will keep
Broken
things:
The big clay
Pot
With raised
Iguanas
Chasing
Their
Tails;
Two
Of their
Wise
Heads
Sheared
Off;
 
I will keep
Broken
things:
The old
Slave
Market
Basket
Brought
To my
Door
By Mississippi
A jagged
Hole
Gouged
In its sturdy
Dark
Oak
Side.
 
I will keep
Broken
things:
The memory
Of
Those
Long
Delicious
Night
Swims
With
You;
 
I will keep
Broken
things:
In my house
There
Remains
An
Honored
Shelf
On which
I will
Keep
Broken
Things.
 
Their beauty
Is
They
Need
Not
Ever
Be
“fixed.”
 
I will keep
Your
Wild
Free
Laughter
Though
It is now
Missing
Its
Reassuring
And
Graceful
Hinge.
 
I will keep
Broken
Things:
 
Thank you
So much
 
I will keep
Broken
Things.
 
I will keep
You:
 
Pilgrim
Of
Sorrow.
 
I will keep
Myself.

#AmericanWriters

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