The Cracked Glass

by Dominic de Boo

Someone gave me a glass on the day I was born

Nothing too special but functional all the same.

Everywhere I went I carried this glass

It held the water that quenched my thirst for life.

Unfortunately it soon got chipped.

I bashed it once or twice - I can't remember how

But I had to be careful from then on not to cut my lip when I drank

Then at school I got into a fight

The glass got knocked over and a crack appeared

I got angry and frustrated and held the glass too tight

And the crack widened

As I grew older I took less care of the glass.

I took it to parties and more chips and cracks appeared.

A glass that was designed to give life giving water

Instead became a holding tank for beer and booze.

One day the cracks became too big and a hole appeared in its side.

Now water came out, at first in drips, and then in streams

I stopped and looked at the mangled wreck of the gift of my life

Cracked and broken - no longer fit for purpose

Upset, I traced down the stranger who had first given me the gift

Feeling guilty I apologized for my negligence and lack of care

But he stopped me

"Look again", he said, "what do you see?"

"A broken glass", I replied.

"Look again", he said, "look at the cracks"

I looked again.

At that moment the sunlight caught the glass and

Where it met no blemish the light reflected back

But where the light hit the cracks it splintered creating

A kaleidoscopic pattern of colour and beauty

"It's beautiful isn't it?" the other spoke

"It is", I replied "but how can this be?"

Though it may no longer fulfil its original purpose

It may yet be a thing of beauty

For the light shines most brilliantly through the cracks".

At that he left me humbled and restored.