The Chair

                                               The Chair

found homeless and wasting

riddled with the bugs

bugs of time and want and damp green

moss

found bundled in crumbling outer skins

water drifted with

 

heart red    -   and real   -   and

cedar scent         -         

belligerent 

kicking like asses 

in refusal.

brittle arms gone    -   or broken      -

push gnarly, knotted lumping pain 

long ago ... 

a stump ... of stubborn clinging

it

lays on it's side defiant to all the winds ............

winds of north and winds of south relentlessly 

pursuing the smoothing ... glossing picture of wild abandon

i took them in

i took them all and put them

put them big and small into my own fitting designs

hacking and sawing with gnats and hog wallows grabbing attentions

pulling, hauling, trudging up to the reckoning 

i began

with wire brush then

 on a spindle whirling and whirling dust of 

maybe a hundred years ... who can tell ... i was busy ... i didn't care

it was the heart and intent of that tree i wanted

searched for   -    and 

found ..................... it

formed ........................it 

bathed ..................... it 

fit it,  

glued it and screwed it .....

formed now 

to each other

E

10/30/2019

Author's Note

The picture is of my first attempt at building a chair. It is made from dead fall cedar that I harvested from out back and down the holler....an adventure all in itself ;)

Reviews

[Yana Larson]

This poem is a raw, visceral exploration of transformation and reclaiming something that has been neglected or forgotten. The imagery is earthy and gritty, with lines like *“riddled with the bugs / bugs of time and want and damp green moss”* evoking decay and the passage of time. The speaker seems to take something broken and abandoned—a fallen tree, perhaps—and breathes new life into it, shaping it with determination and care. The action of restoration, *“hacking and sawing with gnats and hog wallows,”* contrasts with the beauty of what is being formed: the *“heart and intent of that tree.”*

The poem’s tone and style call to mind the works of poets like Ted Hughes and Sylvia Plath, who often explore nature’s raw power, decay, and the process of reinvention. The fragmented structure and use of disjointed imagery lend a sense of urgency and physicality to the act of reconstruction, making the final transformation all the more powerful. Overall, the poem’s intensity, paired with its focus on restoration and renewal, makes it a compelling meditation on resilience and the beauty found in rebirth.

[Einstein Noodle]

wow ... Yana ... i am so glad to meet you .. your analysis is deeply revealing of yourself, me thinks .. can't tell you the depth of my gratitude for the depth your review expresses .. both sensitive and thoughtful .. i will be visiting your street soon as i think your life must be one of river rapids swum and mountain craigs overcome ... blessing to you from me ol' heart .. i have not been a whole lot motivated and am busy now with making a move from my blissful woods and cabin for the big sky and open prairies to the north :) love and peace
E.

[Yana Larson]

I'm glad my review lifted your spirits. I hope it inspires you to write more. Yeah, come visit me on my page. Welcome :))) have a wonderful day and thank you!

[Einstein Noodle]

:) .........................

[Robert Trakofler]

that chair is so damn gorgeous and I love the references of taking refuse and making it into something of beauty and this piece is a fine construction of cast off words laying about your minds woods to formed into your construction to a composition of you, the words and the chair. This could only come from love Mr Einstein:)

[Einstein Noodle]

you are a sensitive man ...tho a Bad Bunny ;) thanks so much for your encouragement ... very happy you found something of value in me cast off words and refuse :))))))))))))))))))))))))) that's exactly it eh!? love on ya bro!
E.

[Sami Khalil]

The chair made for the king in his own castle(house) found in wonderful Ozarks which I have seen on my way to Hot Springs and made with cedar which I love. Man, Einstein you are multi talented and faceted. I go to Tannehill state park in Alabama (half an hour from my house) where people bring their wares and I buy stuff like that. I have an Adirondack chair hand-made.

[Einstein Noodle]

ahhhh the Adirondack chair .. timeless eh!? we have two on the back deck .. Norma and i both grew up in upstate NY so those chairs hold those memories too ;) Hot Springs!! only 150 miles away!!! let us know the next time you visit .. please stop by ... :) did you do the old bath house? ... and thank you for reviewing my friend ... always a treat
E.

[Sami Khalil]

Thank you for the invite. Did not do the baths but we saw everything(the historic buildings from the inside and their history), ate the good food, went on the sky tower on the mountain and admired the hot springs. I know those baths can be therapeutic as poetry to us. You are welcome sir.

[Einstein Noodle]

:) ....................

[Sami Khalil]

:)................

[andrew mitchell]

Now thats a one of a kind chair, what a find, the hours spent in creating a piece and finding the wood, you did justice with your write Gene

[Einstein Noodle]

thanks andrew ... love your visits and encouraging review .. both projects felt pretty good ... love and joy my friend!
E.

[andrew mitchell]

You too blessed one!

[Einstein Noodle]

ahahahaha ... blessed we all are :)))))))))))))))))))))

[Gee]

I manage 50 carpenters and very few can make anything but a mess !!
Tis a beautiful thing, the chair, a piece that may well live through generations.
Good morning sir, hope you are well

[Einstein Noodle]

and the rest of the day to you sir! ...50 Carpenters???? man....that must be some crew! ... just keep them straight ... don't string them along .. they'll toe the line unless they are plumb crazy :)))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))) thank you for the high praise .. i promise it won't go to me head ... i know all the flaws too ;) love on ya .. what project are you managing?? would love to hear a bit about it!
E.

[Gee]

I work for a company that does solely new build housing projects. We have 150 carpenters spread over 40+ jobs. At present I probably have anywhere between 350 - 400 plots in build but have 6 new phases starting in the next 3 months. It's busy, busy :))

[Einstein Noodle]

wow! that's huge .. where are you? in the States? wherever it is ... it is a wonderful indicator for a strong economy .. always a balm for the soul :)

[Gee]

I'm in Milton Keynes, England. They are always screaming for more houses, build, build, build :)

[Einstein Noodle]

i think that's fantastic .. exciting even :)

[Einstein Noodle]

I have an older poem that kind of goes along the same lines as "The Chair" ... if the link works you can find it here if you are interested:
https://www.writerscafe.org/writing/rIGt2mAk3/1955367/
E.

[Lorry]

My first reaction to this was "why does this sound like it could be about me, up until the restoring part", but my second thought was that this shows more about the man behind the words, to see its reclamation as treasure, where other eyes saw it as trash and most likely went to ikea to replace it.
The whole journey, from sight, to planning, to enjoying your newfound treasure reeks of accomplishment, in seeing beyond our throwaway society and bringing something back to life.
If only all work could be as enjoyable and rewarding.
Im jealous of your ability in craftsmanship in woodwork and poetry E. I once attempted woodwork and sfter months of back breaking work, i managed to make a block of wood into a pile of sawdust. I just placed an old photo frame around it in an attempt to make it look like intentional art. 😀

[Einstein Noodle]

ahahaha well Lorry ... you learned a very difficult and painstaking skill then ... how to sand wood .. add some carpenters glue to the pile you can shape it into an ant hill ... frame it and call it the Ant Farm :)))))))))) see ... your almost there!!! kidding aside .. thanks for reviewing .. your input lifts the corners of me mouth .. not to be jealous tho...my craftsmanship is pretty rough around the edges ... but i do appreciate the compliment
E.

[Neville]

That sure is one fine seat you crafted there both from wood and from words... I just love the way you walk us through the process ... I can picture you now sitting on your porch waiting for the mail man..... :)))

[Einstein Noodle]

ahahaha pint in hand me friend....pint in hand! :) not bad for a first attempt .. 'specially by this old codger geezer :)))))))))))) always thanks for your visits Neville!
E.

[Neville]

Always a pleasure and true.. :)

[Paul Bell]

Looks brill to me. Isn't wood so exciting if caught in time.
A bit of back breaking to begin with, emery paper, wax.
I like the character of the chair, you sure as hell don't get that in Ikea.
Is this your new hobby now.

[Einstein Noodle]

ahahah no... not in Ikea for sure ;) thanks for visiting and taking the time to review .. always important my friend .. yes ... a hobby that got its energy from my retiring to the Ozark Mountains of Arkansas .. so much beauty in the woods .. i have found some great pieces that only needed some gentle coaxing to shine out in a new form ... before I did 24 yrs as a RN i was a carpenter for 15 so retained a lot of those skills and some of my equipment .. what i do is still rough compared to things done for sale .. it takes far more of a shop than i have to produce such pieces .. but .. i am happy with what i do ;) thanks again for stopping by Paul ... always fine to cross trails with you :)
E.

[Paul Bell]

I would imagine a carpenter never gives up his tools.

[Einstein Noodle]

well....this one did .. they were heavy duty and specific .. my son is making good use of them ... i am on to simpler things ;)

[emmajoy]

' .. found bundled in crumbling outer skins - homeless with heart red - and real - and - cedar scent .. '

That chair is made even more beautiful than it looks because it's been brought to life by a man who cared. Who CARES! It's wonderful, a work of true art, a marriage of past and present.. and for goodness sake, how can it fail to stand comfortably and proudly for ever more!

If there ever was a place of refuge for sadly decrepit old furniture that could use a phone... you would be the one to answer the call and gently assure the caller that the future would be as it should be - visibly, gently majestic! . Such a beautiful poem - rebirth personified.

'.. i began - with wire brush then - on a spindle whirling and whirling dust of maybe a hundred years ... who can tell ... i was busy ... i didn't care - it was the heart and intent of that tree i wanted '

[Einstein Noodle]

i just love you Em...your review is still giving me chills ... love love love ya .. thanks so much for you :)
E.

[emmajoy]

There's been a series of TV programmes over here, titled The Repair Shop. Every one of the resident artisans are brilliant in this or that field. Not always furniture but old and precious items taken in by someone who loves whatever. You might find a video of one of more on Y/T. Please look if you ever have time. Byeeeeeeee

[Einstein Noodle]

i will for sure! I watch DIY stuff on youtube all the time ... thanks for the tip dear heart

[Chris Shaw]

You are a craftsman and not only with poetry. I love this poem about your chair. I can imagine all the hours you spent carving that beautiful piece of wood into an item of beauty. Not only your hands working to shape it but your heart also.. My husband is an engineer. I watch him when he works. I love the way his mind approaches a task and all the stages through to finishing a task. He takes his time, but such precision. When I think of you, I will imagine you seated by the fire in your chair :) The tree lives on, and that is wonderful.

Chris

[Einstein Noodle]

thanks Chris... you are sensitive and a caring soul... lucky husband you have ;) the logs were covered in moss, bugs, a little bit of rot .. and lots of dust ... it was a blessing to work with it for sure ... thanks for your great read of this .. warms me heart to know a bit of me came through in such a way ... i am not sure about the closing line .. for me it seems to concrete and sudden ... did you get anything like that?? i am thinking to simply leave it out or maybe say it in a more abstract way ... peace on Earth and in your world Chris ... so glad to be enjoying our friendship .. right here at the Cage'
E.

[Chris Shaw]

Hi Mr E. I agree with you about the last line. Because you have called this piece The Chair, I don:t think there is a need to mention chair again. You could say something along the lines "I sit in my beautiful red cedar". Everyone will know what you are talking about. Just a suggestion my friend, it's your call and you asked :) Also enjoying our friendship here very much :)

[Einstein Noodle]

thank you .. we agree then ... change it i will .. thank you luv :)