The Basket
Fine strips of wood
In the hands of the artist
Held tightly, placed side by
side, crossed over,
side, crossed over,
Agile fingers placing each
one,
one,
Over and under
Pull and tug, keep it just
so,
so,
Again and again…and again…
Line by line
Piece by piece
Fitted together over and
under
under
The rhythm, the pattern
Finally becoming something
more…
more…
Shaping, stretching,
Again and again.
The places of stress
Where one piece intersects
with another
with another
And where this wood wraps
around that,
around that,
Every little corner and
juncture
juncture
Adding just a bit more.
Over and under
Pull and tug.
From the pattern of the
weaving
weaving
Something beautiful comes.
This vessel, this basket,
A tool to aid in gathering,
Gathering
Over and over
Again and again…and again.
Just like us,
Full of imperfections,
With twists and turns, gaps
and lines,
and lines,
Intersections and turnings
Woven together
By The Artist.
— Deborah L. Tisch, 4//9/14
* * * * * * *
It’s Day 9. I think that’s important. Last fall, on Day 9 of National Novel Writing Month, I broke through something and my writing came easier after that. Let’s hope the same happens this month. See you tomorrow, same time, same station….
i remember trying basketry in school many years ago, and being both excited about it and frustrated that i couldnt get it done as fast as i wanted to
Beautiful metaphor and beautiful image of the complexities of the weave.
I like the way your lines echo the shape of the basket weave. Keep it up – you're doing great!