Kintsugi: The Golden Repair

By: Lori Starling

I shouldn’t be Someone

You could take or leave—I

know I’m Cracked,

Chipped,

Broken in All of the Places—

Normally thrown out pottery—

You know,

I was ART once!

So, take the Time to pick up

My Pieces,

and mend Me with gold

like I’m fucking royal!

Loving me is Wanting

to put it all together,

And embrace My broken,

beautiful, and boundless flaws,

And cheer for me when they shine.

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Lori Starling is an author, academic, and poet. They have their MFA in Creative Writing, as well as a BA in English & Creative Writing with various associate degrees. Their past writing can be seen in places, such as One Green Planet, ZOLA Magazine, Bookstr.com, Life in 10 Minutes Lit Magazine, The Daily Drunk, WriteNow Literary Magazine, Beyond Queer Words: A Collection of Poems, and MAW Poetry Magazine, along with their other writing shenanigans. Their first children’s book, Toby Wears a Tutu, was selected for review by Publisher’s Weekly and debuted in January 2021.