Collage

Gather your pile of memories

Bring them to the table

And let them all fall out

Spread them across the woodwork

They are windows to the past

They are the paintings of yesteryear

Pick up the bad ones

And the ones with odd angles

Hold them to the light

And see if they show any more secrets

Then tear them apart

Thin ribbons of paper

Thin lines across the past

Pick apart the picture

Pick and chose what you want to keep

Throw away the garbage

Not everything painful goes in the trash

Now to the canvas

It begins with the central frame

Put down your strongest memory

Glue on what you want to define "you"

Then begins the forging of links

And the chains spread across your page

More memories

Carefully crafted to fit your narrative

Tell the story of who you were and will be

Add some lines, even if they weren't there

Add some colors where there were too much

Add a touch of whimsy because life needs it

And then take a step back

You are halfway there

Now begins the tearing

Take away the things that are too much

Take away the things you don't need to carry

Take away the things you hold the dearest

And find the beauty in a life lived in simplicity

Find the beauty in a full garbage bag

Step back again

Hold it up to the light

Your past is now a tapestry

Held together with the threads of emotions

And telling a grand story

The story of how you became you

Enjoy the picture while its here

Soon you'll get more pieces

And with each pile of new memories

You'll have to start over again

Gathering your pile of memories

Bring them to the table

And let them all fall out