Picking Up Pieces — April 2024 Co-Winner

[MioBrave]

She found me in the scrap yard
I was falling apart
Well, whatever was left of me was
I don't know what she saw
But she took me home

I was visiting the scrap yard
And saw him falling apart
There was a certain charm to him
Rust red and blue paint
So I took him home​

She worked to fix me
She helped replace lost parts
Ones I thought couldn't be found anymore
We kept them in a box
She told me to wait first

I decided to help him
Pointed out the lost parts
Helped him discover which he was missing
Not all at once
It's ok to wait first​

She polished me up
Told me to pick new paint
It sat on the shelf
She said it was a goal
But, to be a mess first

I helped him shine brighter
Let him pick his new look
But, I told him to pause
We don't have to be there yet
It's ok to still be a mess​

She soldered all the wires
Filled in missing bolts
Piece by piece
We emptied the box
She made me feel brand new

I wrote it all out
Helped him connect the dots
Slowly and surely
He made great progress
He practically looked brand new​

Last came the paint
And I was worried for a moment
When everything's fixed, what's next
And, what about her
She seems tired

Then he got all cleaned up
I felt proud; he seemed lighter
He could live on his own
But, he droops
Is he tired​

She had focused on me
Then lost herself
When did she last take time for her
I scoop her up
Now, it's my turn

A hand on my cheek
And suddenly I'm aware
I'm the one drooping now that we're here
He scoops me up
Says it's his turn​

So, we go home together
We live and we learn
Machine or person
There's wear and tear
We could both use some love and care​