Here's to the breakups sounding like
squeaky brake pads — loud enough
to warn you; too late to stop the damage.
From sharing white tees and hang-ups,
to both being stained by
leftover kisses.
My eyes like peeling wallpaper,
drywall soaked in tears —
Either cried too much
or held back for too long.
So I deleted you from my lockscreen
and lost contact with myself.
"New number, who’s this?"
You used to be the first contact
on top of my frequent list.
Now when you first contact,
it feels alien; first contact like UFO's.
Unidentified feelings.
I thought about ripping
the brake pads off, and driving
straight into a wall — higher than the ones
you drove me up against.
But you gave me the drive
to become better.
So thank you for the breakup.
It broke me, just enough
to rebuild with purpose.
Gold in the cracks.
Worth in the wounds.
This is my Kintsugi.
Jan 29
Jan 29, 2026 at 4:22 PM UTC
Here's to the breakups sounding like
squeaky brake pads — loud enough
to warn you; too late to stop the damage.
From sharing white tees and hang-ups,
to both being stained by
leftover kisses.
My eyes like peeling wallpaper,
drywall soaked in tears —
Either cried too much
or held back for too long.
So I deleted you from my lockscreen
and lost contact with myself.
"New number, who’s this?"
You used to be the first contact
on top of my frequent list.
Now when you first contact,
it feels alien; first contact like UFO's.
Unidentified feelings.
I thought about ripping
the brake pads off, and driving
straight into a wall — higher than the ones
you drove me up against.
But you gave me the drive
to become better.
So thank you for the breakup.
It broke me, just enough
to rebuild with purpose.
Gold in the cracks.
Worth in the wounds.
This is my Kintsugi.
Kintsugi, the Japanese art of repairing broken pottery with gold, the poem reframes heartbreak as transformation. The cracks are not hidden; theyre honored. The pain becomes part of the design, proof that what was broken is not ruined its made more valuable because it survived and was rebuilt with intention.
Request permission to use this poem