Puzzle Pieces

The pieces lay broken
well, not broken but misaligned
jumbled
disorganized
a kaleidoscope of color
waiting to be sorted
unraveled
put back together.
Once a huge slab
in a factory
mass produced
with fun in mind
or maybe just profit
cut up into little pieces
and packed into boxes
shipped off to all the little girls and boys
or the 20-something grown ups
who refuse to say 'grown up'
to try their hand at solving it
putting the pieces back together.
A collaborative effort
I sit in the lobby
of the library
at the table with two chairs
taking up both
and leaving room for none
I need this time alone
my back to passerby
who stop to watch
or contribute
this is not mine alone
but OURS
only, I have a problem with sharing
and come back as soon as I can
to finish the puzzle
I didn't start.
It's still there,
Ha! As if,
anyone else were smarter or better than I
No, this puzzle needs me
these people need me
so I sit day after day
1,000 scattered pieces
painstakingly put together
trying to force it won't help,
have patience my dear,
step back and look from afar
what is it you are missing
you can't see from this close
it should fit but it doesn't
it shouldn't fit and it does
the colors don't match
I can't find the one I'm looking for
and then it does
and then I do
and in a rush
like the last half mile of a race
when energy is lacking
but the runner sprints
speeding up the pace
almost done
all the pieces falling into place
it makes sense now
I understand
I see it
rather, it sees me
my hands are not doing this
the pieces find their spots of their own accord
and 5
4
3
2
1
DONE
take a step back
and breath
smile
it's 8:45 pm
the library is closing
no one is around to see my victory
no one but me will know
but I know,
I know
how much it took
to put the pieces of me
back together.