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Open Poetry #21
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Sunshine
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Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-25
Posts 63354
Listening to every heart

0 posted 2002-07-25 04:54 PM



Woodcarver

See his fingers, bent with age
He trembles as he turns the page
Finds the face by which to engrave
The vision that he would now save…

For no wife has he in all these years
And lonely is he save for his tears
So he would carve her beauteous face
To hold within his hands’ embrace…

In a box from below the ledge
He brings forth woods from which to edge
A living form, though no breath will know
This statue’s lungs, or cause her glow.

Soft, creamy white of American Lime
Is not a proper wood this time,
He turns the box to peer some more
Pulls out Butternut to weigh its core

Of golden red, its weight is fine,
But still not what he had in mind,
Perhaps a bit, but it doesn’t hold
The qualities for her sweet soul…

The Walnut’s burl is picturesque
It’s swirls and curls are quite burlesque,
Too much is here, where is the plain,
That holds the song of her refrain…

The Obeche is featureless,
No thrill is here, no sweet caress,
He discards this wood, for one more find
And indeed it’s this that fills his mind…

The Jelutong, like Butternut,
Is waiting for the touch of cut,
It’s soft and has a silver sheen
Much like the figure of his dream,

Its channels where the sap ran warm
Will hold the mysteries of her charm
He eyes it with his inner soul
And reaches for his tools of old

He works the night by candlelight
Carves from memory’s feel of right
A simple maid, with silver hair
And it lives, beneath his care

He could swear he feels the pound of heart
Beneath his fingers, it gives a start
And does the pulse of blood flow red?
As through the channels it has bled…

Woodcarver’s mind begins to sing
A mantra, chant, as if to bring
The lady forth, for just one dance,
The lady lives, by fate? Or Chance?

Jelutong, Jelutong, wood so fine
Bring back to me the love that’s mine
Let her breathe, just once again,
And take us back to love like then


But in his palm lays her curved, carved face
Staring at him, empty of embrace,
Still her countenance sheds a tear
As if Juletong channels felt his fear.

On the workbench, he gently lay
The love of his life, carved this day.





[This message has been edited by Sunshine (07-26-2002 12:08 PM).]

© Copyright 2002 Karilea Rilling Jungel - All Rights Reserved
the_loner_23
Member Ascendant
since 2002-06-08
Posts 5479
Jacksonville, Florida, USA
1 posted 2002-07-25 05:05 PM


I like this a lot

Cold hands means a warm heart

Enchantress
Member Empyrean
since 2001-08-14
Posts 35113
Canada eh.
2 posted 2002-07-25 05:05 PM


Oh Dang Karilea!!
You gave me goosebumps and made my eyes tear!
Oooh, this is SO beautiful...
You are such a talented writer!
And..the images in this are so real and vivid.
What a wonderful tale of the woodcarver you penned for us today!
Thank you for the
Into my library it goes!
~Hugs YOU!~


~ Time to think about publishing? ~
Dark Stranger
Member Patricius
since 2001-03-19
Posts 13631
West Coast
3 posted 2002-07-25 05:18 PM


ms sunshine

you make me miss my woodie

that was the coolest old 49'
didn't run but it sure got great gas milage

this was a really primo set of images..wowza

Magnus
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Member Laureate
since 2001-10-10
Posts 14135
South Carolina, USA
4 posted 2002-07-25 07:33 PM


Karilea....I have to say, without reservation....

This is one of your finest pieces of poetry
you have written....

Beautifully done....such a treasure...

vandana
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Member Patricius
since 1999-10-22
Posts 10463
USA
5 posted 2002-07-25 07:47 PM


enjoys
Mistletoe Angel
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since 2000-12-17
Posts 32816
Portland, Oregon
6 posted 2002-07-25 07:54 PM




(smiles) Oh Karilea, this is wonderful, sweet friend, this made me cry because it made me think of my Joanna and how she was carved from wood in His workshop and that we are truly meant for each other! (sigh) This is beautiful, sweet friend, we all love you so much! You have such a beautiful heart, sweet Karilea, thank you for sharing!



May love and light always shine upon you!

Love,
Noah Eaton

"Underneath your clothes there's an endless story..."

Shakira

Bill Charles
Member Patricius
since 2000-07-11
Posts 10619
highways, & byways, for now
7 posted 2002-07-25 09:43 PM


Sunshine - I knew someone like this once. He's gone now but never forgotten. A very nice write...

BC

suthern
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Member Seraphic
since 1999-07-29
Posts 20723
Louisiana
8 posted 2002-07-26 11:37 AM


Oh, wow... I'm gonna ditto Magnus... for though I expect (and get *S*) excellence every time I open one of your poems, this one is simply outstanding!

Beautiful work... a definite

[This message has been edited by suthern (07-26-2002 11:38 AM).]

paladin
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Senior Member
since 2001-08-05
Posts 930
Pensacola,Fl.
9 posted 2002-07-26 11:42 AM


I have known the pure joy of working with wood.It is truly pleasing when the grain yeilds to skilled loving hands.Wonderful read.

paladin

Martie
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Member Empyrean
since 1999-09-21
Posts 28049
California
10 posted 2002-07-26 11:49 AM


Karilea

I felt like I could touch her face...there is nothing like a wood embrace.  

Larry C
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Member Patricius
since 2001-09-10
Posts 10286
United States
11 posted 2002-07-26 12:00 PM


Aww Karilea,
Wish I could carve like that and better yet the writing! Like Nancy Lee this gave me goose bumps. A keeper for sure and such a touching poem. It seems about now I can relate to some of his emotion. I'm not sure how you do this...but don't ever stop. Thank you.

If tears could build a stairway and memories a lane, I'd walk right up to heaven and bring you home again.

Madame Chipmunk
Member Rara Avis
since 2001-12-05
Posts 8296
Michigan
12 posted 2002-07-26 12:28 PM


Its channels where the sap ran warm
Will hold the mysteries of her charm
He eyes it with his inner soul
And reaches for his tools of old

Oh what a sad and lovely poem, you carved for us, Karilea...
its a real
~ chipmunk hugs

Lyra

copyright2002 Lyra Nesius

"poetry is life distilled"  Gwendolyn Brooks

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