Clay Ode to Diego's '79

The potter's square brick of clay
Unfolds heavy onto the level top.
Tossing the plastic wrap aside,
Hands wet with knowledge,
You have laid out a hat trick of of boundaries,
These are yours of '79 but mine of '79.....
New Mexico,
Not much different,
From the old one...
The wheel spins , the mind runs backwards ,
Damp calluses cup punch pressure become a pitcher,
A plate, a cup,              
The chalice of a life one function,
To be....
Give, then pause,Silence, and give thanks, believe, look through,
Think past your purpose,feel the resulting consequence...
Now act.

Author's Note

Picture: Paul Wright, Rio Ariba Match Race

Reviews

[Horizon K.]

The meditative motions of hands slipping over spinning wet clay... Construction into a function... This does take knowledge and experience... Reminds me of going to the pottery club with my friend and watching she and the other experienced, something profoundly beautiful rising from thier cupped hands, while my own cup... Haha, well the glazing was fun too...
And I think you are older than Diego...

[lee von cleef]

How old is a soul, And yes I have driven more miles , Ridden more miles,and probably ate more chile Rellanos then him, boy I love them.

[Horizon K.]

Oh I love those too... Now you have me wanting some. My mom always made them so well...

[Tree]

You two are making me hungry. I think I know now what I'm having for dinner tonight.

[Horizon K.]

This, was such a beautiful moment...
Ah, 79...

[jacob erin-cilberto]

i so admire people who can do pottery...it is such a beautiful art...and this poem describes the feeling of it so well..calluses become a pitcher, or a cup...a purpose that comes to fruition.

really nice piece here that you have sculpted with your words.

[TL Boehm]

wow. This one hits me where I live, literally. I came to NM in 79.

[Sami Khalil]

A splendid read and write ...Thank you for sharing...:)

[David Scott]

A call to action only after quiet reflection.
Worthy...

[waif]

This is quite an inspirational poem. To find ones purpose then live it out, intentionally. How many of us do, or decide to when we feel it's too late. How we are always capable of starting over, no matter what we feel- finding that zone and pushing through it to mold the days in to a life that matters to- someone, anyone , in a real way. Beautifully measured, and just, just right.

[icelandicblue]

What we make before us and how we use what we have made sets the path we travel. I just loved the contrast of these lines:

The wheel spins , the mind runs backwards ,

We move forward but the past is never far behind. A wonderful read, thank you.

[A.E. Surdam]

Fun and interesting write. We see a snapshot of a life. Great write.

[emmajoy]

Seems we mould ourselves just as we mould that clay - any year. We create selves in place, in shape, in colours bright or dull, fragility or strength. We create beauty with our hands - form, size, use slip, and all, then firing into solid form. All same as making the man or woman into more than an empty bowl.

You create thoughts as your words fly the ether, mister.

[lee von cleef]

Yes and thank you for the smile....

[emmajoy]

With luck the smile will travel onwards.. a stone sending ripples out and away .. one can only hope.

[SHEEMA HUQ]

why say, 'pause/silence' ? Like a playwrite, I wonder?
not that it matters, remotely....
I enjoyed this snapshot of the clay worker's activites,
I can hear the click-clack sounds

[lee von cleef]

I was thinking of the sculpture "The Thinker" and Meditation, or now with computers, the conscious process of physically turning "Off", specific areas of activity, So the unconscious can come out of hiding, or the "outside" can paint on a now blank canvas.

[Tree]

Our memories mold us, shape us. And we keep filling our vessel until the cup runneth over, and we are no more. Thank you for creating, Lee.