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Open Poetry #42
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Woodcarver
| Open Poetry #42 |
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Woodcarver |
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Sunshine
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-25
Posts 63354Listening to every heart 
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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. ~*~ Dad would have been 85 this coming Monday. He so loved the feel of wood, and the talent of his gifts live on. Repost from July 2002 |
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| © Copyright 2008 Karilea Rilling Jungel - All Rights Reserved | |||
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Margherita Member Seraphic
since 2003-02-08
Posts 22236Eternity |
Oh, dear Karilea, I think your dear Dad smiles from Above for his daughter has caught in a masterful way the spirit of his woodcarving art. This is most beautifully written and very poignant too. Love, Margherita  |
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OwlSA Member Rara Avis
since 2005-11-07
Posts 9347Durban, South Africa |
Oh, Karilea . . . Hugs - Owl |
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Enchantress Member Empyrean
since 2001-08-14
Posts 35113Canada eh. |
...  |
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latearrival Member Ascendant
since 2003-03-21
Posts 5499Florida |
Understanding the love you put into this one."late" |
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Ray Sharpe Member
since 2008-05-29
Posts 112Tenerife |
Wow.....it´s as if I was making every cut and shave......very powerfull I love it |
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Prasad Nataraj Senior Member
since 2008-05-29
Posts 1149Bangalore,India |
I always wanted to learn woodcarving. Surely a good carpenter does really know, to select the right wood. Enjoyed reading this poem, Immensely. |
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Marchmadness Member Rara Avis
since 2007-09-16
Posts 9271So. El Monte, California |
This is such a beautiful and touching way of remebering your Dad, Karilea. Ida |
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BluesSerenade Member Patricius
since 2001-10-23
Posts 10549By the Seaside |
Every poem you ever wrote is deeply felt and full of love. Your poetry is exquisite Karilea, and never fails to move the reader in me. |
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Alison 
since 2008-01-27
Posts 9318Lumpy oatmeal makes me crazy! |
You touched my heart. I love this - it is most beautiful.  |
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Midnitesun
since 2001-05-18
Posts 28647Gaia |
A beautiful write, Karilea, revealing the depth of a loving heart, of a carver who knew his woods as well as his subject. (Thanks for introducing me to Jelutong, a wood I wasn't familiar with!) |
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graeshine2006 Member
since 2008-06-03
Posts 368The Prairie Lands, USA |
Wow!!! That is truly beautiful. I mean truly. Your gift is a gift to us. |
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