The Lamp And Another

Amira,

He called her Amira.

I found out when she

Got me home and

He kissed her

And whispered

Thank you, Amira.

She got me

To this house that

Was his

But she called hers.

She found me

At the garage sale

She didn’t mind that

I was broken

She said

He’d fix me.

And he did.

He didn’t fear the hurt

From the broken piece

He held me

And he fixed me

And I shone

I shone when

The sun didn’t

I shone during

Cold rainy evenings

Nights when they

Made love

Nights when they

Remained quiet

Listened to music

I shone for them

To read books

And then later

On days when they

Fought

Hurled abuses

Threw things

Across the room

I grew a little dim

Yes I did

But I continued to shine

And then one day I saw

A girl at the door

I didn’t know her

She had a lamp

In her hands

He pulled her close

Kissed her

Said Thank you, Kiara

So she was called Kiara

But this time

The lamp was new

Had no broken pieces

Looked expensive

He took me down

He put it up

Phew, I didn’t have to shine anymore