i treasured a beautiful bowl 
as my most prized possession 
i would hold it in my hands 
gazing at it with adoration 
i would run my fingers gently 
across its multi-textured surface 
decorated with gold and silver 
as it bedazzeled my senses 
not long ago i was startled 
by a door harshly slammed shut 
and my bowl, my lovely bowl 
slipped from my fingers 
i watched it fall to the floor 
and shatter into tiny pieces 
very tiny meaningless pieces 
scattered about my feet 
i picked up the pieces 
large and medium and small 
and with patience and love 
i glued them together over time 
my bowl was never the same
is spite of patience and effort 
it was warped and it leaked 
and had lost its bright lustre 
and so too it is with love
once upon a time