By Nathaniel Lachenmeyer

This vase has so many cracks
let’s agree to agree

to call it a pattern
knowing it’s only a matter of matter

or time before
one of us accidentally

or accidentally on purpose
elbows it off the shelf

of our lives again.
Let’s agree next time

it falls to the floor
shattering everything

except the recollection
that it once held flowers

to lie and say there is no glue
crazy enough to fix it

that can be bought
for love or money

or anything in between.
Let’s lie next time.

 

About the Author

Nathaniel Lachenmeyer is an award-winning disabled author of books for children and adults. His first book, The Outsider, which takes as its subject his late father's struggles with schizophrenia and homelessness, was published by Broadway Books. His most recent book, an all-ages graphic novel called The Singing Rock & Other Brand-New Fairy Tales, was published by First Second/Macmillan. Nathaniel lives outside Atlanta with his family.