Repurposing a Stick

An old stick

picked up off

a beach

sanded down

to a smooth-

less artifact

utilitarian tool

to keep

me upright.

Ken e Bujold

© 2022

Reviews

[John]

A matter-of-fact WCW type poem that demands several readings and tentative interpretation. I think the form is significant - stick-shaped and bringing a laser-like focus to the individual words. The caesura in the second line, for instance, raises a question flag over the word 'beach', which gets a line all to itself, and its status is further undermined with the punning 'sanded'.  

This poem may be a smooth-less artifact, strung together, as it were, with the Lego bricks or Mecanno parts of language, but its significance is expressed by the final word 'upright', battling its way through the long vowel sounds of 'keep' and 'me', Ultimately, the poet has picked himself up, by undergoing the creative process and producing the work of art.

[Ken e Bujold]

this is without a question the most thoughtful review I have received since coming to the cafe. I can't tell you how much I appreciate the time and effort extended to this poem and review John. It is WCW in nature, but also harkens to a Canadian fav of mine Robin Skelton who found beauty in the simplicity of things well said.

[John]

You're very welcome. Robin Skelton is new to me but sounds like an interesting poet.

[Ken e Bujold]

should check him out if you like WCW. Dead now, but was a very successful minor poet in Canada for more than 40 yrs

[Red Brick Keshner]

a stick for a stick figure
figures not its utility
cast into the flame
once its game is up

[Ken e Bujold]

yes but then it still has a utilitarian nature, its kindling to be flamed, then carbon to eventually become a diamond in the rough

[Red Brick Keshner]

Exactly, utility is current and seemingly eternal, following that line.

[W. Barrett Munn]

I have no walking stick.
Do I still walk?
Does the stick?

Winston

[Ken e Bujold]

post it!! its a great philosophical bit about a stick

[Fabian G. Franklin]

I make walking sticks so I enjoyed this write. I cut most of mine from various saplings. I like the ones that have honeysuckle vines grown into them to make a natural twist in the wood. I've probably given a dozen or so away to friends and family. I have a dogwood, a plum, a white oak and a maple in my private collection but I've also made walnut and other woods. I like driftwood and old cedar stumps and all sorts of natural things I find.

[Gee]

I used to have a stick for walking the pooch with a ducks head carved at its top. The stick was never a walking aid it was more a cudgel to batter uninvited, arse sniffing canines, the dogs arse not mine :))

[Ken e Bujold]

over here I have used it to beat the bloody geese

[Gee]

:))))))))))))