Just in time for Valentine’s day: A heart shaped box.
This is a project that our marquetry club did last weekend. It’s a band saw box about five inches across. I didn’t get my 100% finished, so here are the progress pictures. The next step is to complete the marquetry for the top – a heart shaped Celtic knot. Then a bit of sanding and some wipe on ploy for a finish.
Heart shaped band saw box in progress
The lid swings open and the inside bottom has a veneer applied to it.
The lid top will get this Celtic knot marquetry.
I hope to get some time this weekend to finish the marquetry. Might write a poem about it this week.
In the summer the sea covers the forest
in cooling fog
shading trees from the heat of the day.
Tule fog comes after the refreshing rains
when the air stills
when the nights are long waiting for more rain.
Fog covers the world
in damp and cold
that penetrates the soul and bones
The world pauses as long visions obscure
and grey fills the sight and mind.
Grey covers green lawns and red stop lights.
The coastal redwoods reaching for the sky
spread their thin hands to catch the mist
and let the water drop at their feet.
Life giving, thirst quenching, cooling fog
People it drives indoors as it chills the soul
driving light and life from their eyes.
Bones ache in the silent damp
as all turn their eyes to where the sun should be.
Through the ages, the trees have welcomed the fog
and it’s gift of refreshing water.
Their small needles specially made for the task finding
water in the long summer drought of the California coast.
Slowly, painfully
the bright spot of the sun grows
brings the day to glorious clear light.
Dancing in the sun people rejoice at the return of light and warmth.
The trees lament as
their roots return to the thirst of a long dry summer.
Me reading the poem.
That’s all for this week. I am taking next week off from this blog to spend a little more time on my poetry book.
He sits in the choir
in the same chair for 50 years
sings the same part
Once his hair was black and his voice could fill the sanctuary
this place he built with the others of his time
today he still sings, still does his part
as the lights that now dim
and the spot light focuses on the pulpit
and the young preacher beginning her sermon
on a text the old man has heard each of his 80 years
He knows the story well, it has filled his hunger and is etched on his heart.
Still the pastor tells it once again
as the man’s head leans forward
not in prayer but in sleep
which is the better gift, the word or the sleep?
Well that’s it for this week, just a short poem that I wrote when I should have been listening to the pastor preach.
I recently read a book titled, Singing School, by Robert Pinsky. No, it’s not about how to sing music. It’s about how to write poetry by giving examples of notable poems where Pinsky points out the interesting twists and things the poet does to make a particular poem good, interesting or notable. One of the things Pinksy points out that some poems need to be read aloud to get the full impact of the poem. Often just reading a poem silently isn’t enough. There can be important parts missed by just reading with the mind without passing the poem through your ears.
So, I decided to read one of my poems aloud to hear what it sounded like to my ears. I’ve been thinking lately that I need to present my poems in two forms – the written word and the spoken word. Listen to my reading and let me know what you think
Andrew's View of the Week 