Visited the oldest wood crafting store in Gatlinburg yesterday. The Wood Whittlers was founded in 1944. The same family still owns it now. Got me thinking about wood artistry.
when the carver first begins,
picks up the chisel, slices,
then takes a knife, whittles,
sawdust and wood chips
falling to the floor
as the object stays steady
in swirls of grain revealing?
Would that piece become
a bowl under another’s knife
or is the object predestined
to be what it eventually becomes?
The artist knows each wood,
checks for defects, cracks,
the pattern of rings, wild burls
breaking up pattern,
a knot for one might bring defeat
but for another, the eye of a beast
watching the carver release him.
Poetry by Melinda K Zarate
Written on 2026-06-10 at 03:07
Tags Art Wood
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The Eye
Is the shape within the woodwhen the carver first begins,
picks up the chisel, slices,
then takes a knife, whittles,
sawdust and wood chips
falling to the floor
as the object stays steady
in swirls of grain revealing?
Would that piece become
a bowl under another’s knife
or is the object predestined
to be what it eventually becomes?
The artist knows each wood,
checks for defects, cracks,
the pattern of rings, wild burls
breaking up pattern,
a knot for one might bring defeat
but for another, the eye of a beast
watching the carver release him.
Poetry by Melinda K Zarate
Written on 2026-06-10 at 03:07
Tags Art Wood
Save as a bookmark (requires login) Write a comment (requires login) Send as email (requires login) Print text
