The Art of Embracing Brokenness
A fragile clay pot—
Broken becomes worthless. But
Gather up the scattered fragments.
Mend the cracks with care and love that
Trace healed wounds with golden scars.
Imperfection revealed as beauty—
The ordinary becomes holy.
Ruth Meredith 9/7/2019
This poem reflects the Japanese aesthetic of kintsugi, which is the art of embracing damage. The word literally translates as ‘Golden repair or mending’ This aesthetic is related to Wabi Sabi, the Buddhist concept that values transience incompleteness and imperfection.