Poem - The Worn-Out Thing

Poem - The Worn-Out Thing

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The coat has been patched at the elbow where the [...] wore through. The patch is a different fabric, darker, stitched [...] in a thread that does not match. This is not neglect. This is the [...] that stays.

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The book has a name in it. [...] in blue ink, first page, the [...] that says this belongs to someone. The name is [...] now, the ink has faded where the [...] turned the page. The book is [...] now. The name is still there.

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The child's toy has the paint worn off the [...] . The face that was [...] is now the wood underneath, smooth where the [...] held it. The child is [...] now. The wood is still smooth.

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The shopping list in the coat pocket reads: bread, [...], milk, the [...] that was needed on a [...] that was ordinary. The list is [...] now. The coat is [...] now. The bread was eaten. The [...] was used.

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The letter in the book is from [...] to [...]. The words that were [...] are now the [...] where the page has been [...] so many times the [...] has worn away. The love is in the [...]. The [...] is the love.

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The drawer is full of worn-out things. Each one is the [...] thing. Each one is the [...] thing. The wear is the [...]. The use is the [...]. The thing that has been [...] to pieces is the thing that [...]

[...]

still holds.