THE GOOD CHINA

Heave it against the wall. 

Break as many heirloom plates as it takes

to have the argument you’re not having.

Hold nothing back.

This time, though, the person 

you are feuding with is you.

After you are good and done,

after the dust has settled,

and you are a little worse for the wear,

a bit shell shocked and still red-in-the-face,

only then can you start the real work.

From the scattered broken pieces

strewn about the room

make something new. Do it

with the precision and moxie

of a forger attending to his masterpiece.

This is how you keep it fresh, your genius, 

how you keep from falling asleep at the wheel 

of your of own originality.