पश्चाताप

when he shattered
his jar of memories
of us together

i picked up the pieces
and made a wall hanging
for the living room

i did it again 
with a smile
and again
for anyone who left

i guarded them zealously
and displayed them proudly
"look i made a thing of beauty 
out of tragedy"

but when you gently
slid your jars
my way
and got up to leave
i realized
that i didn't care about the jar 
any more

it was you who made me feel
that the jar,
after all,
is only a lowly substitute
for the one who leaves

this time i am afraid of losing 
you
not the jar