Second Hand

She arrived without warning

No appointment

No invitation

An acquaintance from

A distant past …

Forgotten

But not unknown

Scratched and dented

But not broken

A little worse for wear

But of timeless design

She showed up

She said, “hi”

She offered a kind word

He, on the other hand,

Was broken

He was lost

He had given up hope

Asleep and sleep walking

Living in dreams

Unreal and unrealistic

He noticed her

He heard her kind word

He stopped what he was doing

And he listened

With broken hands

He removed the worn finish

Turpentine and oils

Penetrating grain

Softly rubbing the oil in

Letting it restore luster

Long ago stained and marred

By a less caring soul

And as he loving applied

Coat upon coat

Has hands healed

Mending not only

A broken heart

But a kind spirit

And together they

Found in each other

What was lost and forgotten

Hand rubbed and held up

As the treasures they were

Priceless and beautiful

Ageless and pure

Reborn.