here's what happens

a mug crashes down from the shelf and there you are
looking down at the smashed pieces on the linoleum

sprawled out chaotically in varying sizes and shapes
many of them pointy
and if you touch a little shard
for example pull one out from under the refrigerator
there is a good chance it will dig into your hand
causing you to bleed
and so you just stand there and stare at the whole mess

the thing is
you loved that ******* mug
it was your favorite
the right shape: curvy at the bottom and again at the top
fitting like a glove to your hand: three fingers around the handle
and enough space not to burn your knuckles

and you stare and wonder how can this be
how can there be a mug, warm and familiar
and also this shattered mess on the floor
how is your mind big enough
how is the universe big enough

you've got to put them together
go searching for the superglue
but the container has sealed itself shut, as usual
it doesn't matter
even if you can recreate the basic shape
there are so many cracks
it can't possibly get through morning coffee

so you stand and cry
and make no effort to stop your tears
and they fall
on the linoleum
mixing with a few ceramic fragments

it gets dark
so you get a dust pan and broom
and do all there is to do: move on