Crystal of Pain


Once upon a season, someone I loved caused me hurt.
It was a small thing, like a grain of sand tossed into the ocean, 
    hardly noticed by the one who dropped it in. 
But like a seed crystal in the proper solution, it began to grow --
Gathering in and making part of itself 
All the accumulated particles of similar grief and sorrow
Left by others over the years.

Soon it will have grown quite large
And I will try to lift it out, 
Shape it into a gem of poetic imagery, 
And leave it on display as a thing of beauty.  

Many will see it.
Some will stop and admire.
But only a very few
Will gaze into its inner structure
And realize from whence it came.  



                                     -- Tom Digby
                                     Original 01:05 10/14/1971
                                     Entered  14:36 11/13/2002
                                     Title added at entry time