Nika Doerr

Same Piece, Different Lens

Childhood

Gave us puzzles

To teach us patience;

Kaleidoscopes

To teach us perspective. We were told that every

Piece has its place, and that with patience, order

Would come about. We fought the battle confused,

Sorting the pieces by color, by shape, and by edge.

We were told that the colors would remain, and that

It would hold itself together. But as a flat side collided

With a rounded knob, we put it away; closed the box,

And moved onto the kaleidoscope. But as we try to

Assemble the image, spinning it countlessly, it

shifts, and we are unable to remember where

We started. Back then, every piece belonged

Somewhere, and every twist created something

Beautiful. Now, the puzzle pieces are scattered around

And none of them quite fit, no matter how we turn them.

And as we turn the Kaleidoscope that now lives behind

Our eyes, we

Can reflect on who we

Are, and who we are

Trying to become.

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