My first poem
For the love of basket-making, or Just One More
He sat, his back against the wall, his legs stretched out before;
half-finished basket on his lap.
He peered out through the door
from gloom within to glare without,
and with neither smile nor sigh,
snatched photographic glimpses
of the people passing by.
Upsett – slew – border – brew;
the pattern of his day
unbroken as for centuries;
there is no other way
to make a basket. Engineers
might work with all their skill
to make machines to do the job
but he knows they never will.
Pulling out another rod
from his pile of mellowed stuff
he weaves it in, and then two more
then measures – that’s enough.
A three rod wale, and beat it down,
his iron polished bright
by his palm, and palms before his own;
he beats it level – tight.
A common five-rod border now
laid more by touch than sight;
checking, smiling, trimming up,
Yes, that one looks just right.
Plain roped handle – not long now
(the kettle quietly steaming)
his thoughts turn inwards, glazed his eyes,
he settles into dreaming
for a minute, ‘til the kettle boils
and brings him back once more,
and he rises, creaking,
from his polished plank upon the floor.
With mug in hand he idly stands
in sunlight in the doorway,
soaking up enough supplies
to see him through one more day
Sorting out tomorrow’s work
he puts stuff in the tank
to soak, then turning back inside,
he settles on his plank;
picks up his knife and rods, he slypes
sending chips across the floor
and smiling, says “I think there’s time,
yeah – time for just one more:
© Rob king 1990
Recommend0 recommendationsPublished in Poetry & Stories
I just thought i’d put this up again to see how the blog looks. Of course, you may actually enjoy reading it again ;0)
I did enjoy reading this poem. You brought the scene to life, movement and feeling!
Very good Twiggs
WTG Bro …. LOL
Well done Twiggs
Love it Bob even if i STILL don’t understand it all, but thats my problem lol Rosh xx
great twigger keep up the good work
well done
Beautiful Twiggs…a friend with many talents. Congratulations!!!!!
good one twig
It was just as great the second time, Twig . . . It’s perfect for the very first blog on the new site.
Loved your poem twig – you brought the scene to life – yes you are a very talented man. xxoo
Twigger– This strikes me as first rate stulff. Awfully good, strong emotion, masculine, heartfelt but not cloyingly sentimental. You’ve written a song for your own occupation that would surely have pleased and indeed echoes Walt Whitman in a way. If you make baskets with equal talent they must be works of art indeed.
I thought this poem was really good for being a first you did very well keep it up and write more poems I wrote a song some time back and I don’t sing but cant seem to give my song away hoping the right person will come along that can do my music I totally enjoyed reading this
I really enjoyed this poem! It’s a very visual story of a man working at what he loves. You seem to be an experienced poet to me.
Thanks for sharing!