Broken Cup

A coffee cup,

some can stay brand new, 

Only worn on the inside from age and use,

The nicks away from outside eyes,

Other cups, 

They are dropped,

They are traded,

Still people try to piece them together,

Because they need to have a coffee cup,

Everyone has this great coffee cup,

So they must too,

But then the cup continues to break,

Shards go missing,

Pieces shrink, 

and soon the cup,

It is more tape and glue then that shiny glass,

Porcelain becomes scarce,

Instead ugly looks back at you,

Useless ugly that can''t even hold coffee,

But that's not what they see.

The cup is gone, 

But like everyone else,

They must continue the false impression they have this great cup,

Even when it is broken,

and everyone can see, 

Everyone but the people trying to fix an unfixable.

Because glass is so fragile,

But egos?

But status?
But reputation?

That, that is so much more fragile,

But what no one remembers is a cup can't be fixed,

After damage is done, it is there,

But egos,

status,

reputation,

Are all fixable.

It may look fine on the outside,

Be nicked within,

Or may be completely busted,

So many people trying to make it work,

But what is gone is gone,

and maybe the pieces can be reused,

let them move on,

create art,

tables,

be recycled,

Just because it isn't a coffee cup,

Doesn't mean it is any less special,

Any less related,

It was still a coffee cup,

But sometimes, it was just meant to be more

Author's Note

I have been inactive for ALMOST a year, because I have been going through some shit, and I will post a journal story about it later, but until then, I leave you this piece of work I created while going through said stuff. Opinions are always welcome <3

Reviews

[Wesley Dingler]

It was just a coffee cup, but sometimes it was meant to be more.

Such an excellent way to end a wonderful poem.
The last line alone suggest it [was] something more.

[Coyote Poetry]

Your words honest and true dear Angela.
"It was still a coffee cup,
But sometimes, it was just meant to be more"
The above lines. Realistic view on living. Thank you Angela for sharing the amazing poetry and your thoughts.
Coyote

[Angela Sparks]

Thank you. I always try to be really honest with my responsres and poems. I am always happy to read your reviews

[Coyote Poetry]

I always enjoy your work and you are welcome Angela.

[KCthelastboyscout]

You go through it. You think about it. You' write it. You look at it. You send it through. How do you feel the same or different? maybe better?

[Angela Sparks]

I xan;t comprehend this drunk but if I remember to look at it sober I will gove a proper resonse

[light and ashes]

The end of this poem is what really got me. "It was still a coffee cup, but sometimes, it was just meant to be more." Beautiful

[Angela Sparks]

Thank you. I loved writing that part and I felt as if it helped wrap up the entire poem quite well

[light and ashes]

you're welcome and it did

[Nigel Newman]

Angela Hi. Like one of the other reviews I was very taken with the metaphor of the cup. I see you wondered if you'd gone on a bit too much, and I can see why. I even found myself wondering this as I read it. But I kept coming back to the truth that time after time after time after time we deny, and it takes a great while before we realise this can no longer be fixed - deal with it and move on.

My only writing suggestion, or open question, is whether your metaphor could be made even more apposite and really be about egos and vanity etc but using the name cup; with the intention not to have the 2nd part of the poem. It might not work, but it might be worth considering a more cryptic coffee cup first half that has the reader thinking 'what is she really saying here ...?' and then don't have the second half, so that the reader has to figure it out for themselves.

In this vein I was struck by the similarity between your story and a priest's sermon or a biblical parable. Just like your story, wither of these would have the metaphorical positioning opening part then the message in the closing part. So while you're treading 'safe' writing paths here, if I think of how we sometimes have to strive to discern what an artist is getting at (if anything), then the harder writing path of pure exclusive allegory or metaphor is a challenge worth at least considering. Hope this makes sense - it got me thinking, and also of course, welcome back!

Nigel

[Angela Sparks]

I am always afraid to make shorter poems. The idea of is makes me wonder if I have said to little. But with that being said, even though this poem is long, I think cutting it off sooner I might have cut out some of the good parts that I enjoyed writing. Such as "Just because it isn't a coffee cup,
Doesn't mean it is any less special,
Any less related,
It was still a coffee cup,
But sometimes, it was just meant to be more"
I

[Angela Sparks]

I loved writing that piece. along with I few other parts. I do think maybe I could've omitted the ego and reputation part, but it was important at the time for me to include it because of my thought process. I do appreciate the review and will take this consideration when writing another poem though. Although this one is still open to many different interpretations, not as many as if I would've made it shorter. I always love your honest and critiquing reviews:)

[Nigel Newman]

I suppose in different words I'm saying the same 'less is often more' message that's been said to me several times. In some ways it's similar to what I'm presently going through in some new studio tracks our band is doing (40 years and never a repeated mention on a radio station and less than 20 'fans', but it's a fun hobby). I will listen, ask for a tweak, listen again, find another thing to tweak, then ..... And at some point I have to admit to myself - whose view is more important when it's already 99.5% there - if other people listen and say it's great and don't hear the same glitches or opportunities. When to stop fiddling and rewriting. An age-old dilemma. When John Cleese did 'Fawlty Towers' he stopped after 2 series of 6 shows, despite massive calls for more. To this day, people still debate this. Anyway, I'm rambling. The point is that you wrote this and you have the right to change or not change, to hint or imply vs clearly assert and describe. The whole question of how cryptic to be was very much on my mind in my latest upload 'Travellers Rest'. You might like to have a look and let me know if it's too obvious or too opaque.

Cheers
N

[Davidgeo]

I thought of an abusive relationship and how some enable and perpetuate them because of what they hope for something to be instead of recognizing what something actually is. People endure all kinds of abuse because they look at things with an irrational hope style of approach instead of a realistic problem solving style of approach.

Just because something can hold liquid doesn't mean you should drink out of it. Toilets hold water quite well but we don't drink from them.

I know that's not exactly what you meant but that's what I got out of it before I read the other comment.

[Angela Sparks]

I left this open for many interpretations, I actually had one specific interpretation of it on my own- a broken family trying to make itself work, but plenty of things are false hope, or hidden nicks, or broken unfixables. This poem wasn't meant to be for that one specific interpretation because each person's mind and experiences will shape it to what most relates to them.I like your interpretation. People will still try to fill a broken cup, just like how an abuse relationship is usually the victim trying to make it work. So I think your interpretation still fits it quite well:) Sorry I rambled a bit

[Davidgeo]

I'm glad you rambled. It's always interesting to get incite about something from the author.

[Davidgeo]

I meant "insight"... sorry, I've been drinking.

[Angela Sparks]

It is okay.. I drink too. I understand. Thank you though, for reading

[Phill Oz O'fee]

Yes - I can see where you are coming from with your dramatic metaphorical write! The comparative parallels to a life that has been subjected to hurts, scars and abuse are clearly defined within the stanza flow and wordplay! But the conclusion; that the vessel can still be filled brings hope - great share my friend and glad you have returned once more! Looking forward to reading more of your writes; hopefully with more brighter themes - :-)

[Angela Sparks]

Thank you for your review! I am glad the metaphor made since. I thought maybe I had rambled on a bit.I am glad you like it. Thank you again :)