[ WP ] Write about something that is disgusting or ugly in such a way that it becomes something beautiful -- without using the 'beautiful inside ' cliche .

My great-grandfather ’ s old wristwatch: 
 
 The steel bracelet is stained and covered in desk scratches and everyday bumps. 
 
 There are dents, marks, and fine grazes along the bezel and on the lugs. 
 
 The acrylic crystal is cracked and the silver dial is now a dusty ivory. 
 
 A quick shake awakens the old automatic movement, 
 
 And the second hand begins its 60-second sweep. 
 
 The ticks and clicks of the gears and springs inside threatens to die with every beat, 
 
 And the bracelet ’ s split pins wiggle out of their links if worn too long. 
 
 Still I wear it and still I love it. 
 
 “ You should get it cleaned up, ” my sister says. 
 
 “ I bet it ’ s worth a mint if you sell it, it ’ s so old, ” my father says. 
 
 But I won ’ t do either. 
 
 The watch is an heirloom. 
 
 It lived on the wrist of an old man in his last days. 
 
 It travelled across the Pacific, across the country, 
 
 Only to find its way in my mother ’ s bathroom jewelry drawer. 
 
 I plucked it out and kept it safe. 
 
 Sometimes I wear it and pretend to be an old Japanese man. 
 
 Every defect is family history. 
 
 It tells the story of a clumsy old man, 
 
 That lived through the war, that made a name for himself, 
 
 And how he checked his wrist as he got closer to his end. 
 
 In his country, there ’ s the idea of wabi-sabi: 
 
 Finding perfection in the imperfect. 
 
 As the watch has aged, it ’ s birthed an unattractive aesthetic. 
 
 The scratches and the dings on the metal add to its appearance. 
 
 Now his watch is mine. 
 
 It might not be much to look at, 
 
 But it ’ s a lot to think about. 

