Whittling Poem

[artolver]

I thought I would post this poem about Whittling that my friend sent me by e-mail this morning. The poem is by John Stone. Thanks, Enjoy! Art

Whittling: The Last Class

by John Stone

What has been written
about whittling
is not true

most of it

It is the discovery
that keeps
the fingers moving

not idleness

but the knife looking for
the right plane
that will let the secret out

Whittling is no pastime

he says
who has been whittling
in spare minutes at the wood

of his life for forty years

Three rules he thinks
have helped
Make small cuts

In this way

you may be able to stop before
what was to be an arm
has to be something else

Always whittle away from yourself

and toward something.
For God's sake
and your own
know when to stop

Whittling is the best example
I know of what most
may happen when

least expected

bad or good
Hurry before
angina comes like a pair of pliers

over your left shoulder

There is plenty of wood
for everyone
and you

Go ahead now

May you find
in the waiting wood
rough unspoken

what is true

or
nearly true
or

true enough.

[JoeVM]

Nice poem Art. Thanks for posting.

[Sharon of the Dell]

thanks Art! I think I'll print it out and tack it on the wall when my shop is done some day!

[Nomad]

Neat poem Art. Thanks for sharing it.

[woodcarversfriend]

That was beautiful, Art, and helps me understand the art of woodcarving even more. I am not a carver, and do not play one on TV either. Thanks for sharing in such a lovely format!

[artolver]

Glad you all liked the poem! Thought it was a good one to share. Had a lot of meaning in it to me. Sharon that is a good idea, might get lost in my old garage though! Ummm, that's a very interesting statement woodcarversfriend, that you don't play a carver on TV either?
Thanks, Art & Dorothy

[kdispoto]

Thanks for sharing something that made me feel good about myself.