Mosaics

Mosaics

I read this quote once

That said something along the lines of 

I am a mosaic of all those I have loved

And it took me a moment

To realise how true it actually is.

There are people hidden in my soul

In fragments and shards and slivers

In how I dress,

How I laugh

The recipes I cook

The jewellery I decorate myself with 

The colours in my hair

In my hopes and dreams.

I wear over-sized t-shirts 

Because my dad gave me his

From concerts I had never been to.

I hug people tightly

Because it’s my best friend’s way of saying

‘I missed you’

After months of being apart.

My favourite colour is purple

Because four of my aunts will answer the same

And I like their reasons better.

There is an ANZAC slice recipe

Only I know how to cook

That I got from a Grade 3 camp

Where I belonged, for the first time.

There are places I can and cannot go

For no reason other

Than I fell in love 

Or lost someone there.

There are mannerisms

Phrases

Stances

Expressions

I have stolen from those I admire.

I sometimes wonder

How much of me is actually MINE

Because of all the shades of existence

I have adapted from those I have loved.

But in the end

I don’t think it matters all that much.

Because if I have parts of other people

There is a chance

That other people do too.

And I think they do.

I have heard of those slivers.

‘Oh, my friend showed me my favourite movie…’

‘I’m sorry, but you sneeze like my brother…’

‘My ex did their hair like this, so…’

‘My mum has this recipe…’

‘You remind me of someone…’

We are all mosaics of those we have loved.

How wonderful, to find something you thought hateable 

In those that have loved you.

Evie Taylor, Year 11