The Shoemaker
by pete marshall
I carve the shape of trodden souls,
fastened tight to harden skin,
mallet’s wait for hearts to pound,
for Elf’s to come and roam within.
I’ve lived this life from boy to man
in tangled doubts with callused hands
that stitch the threads of spinners charm,
alone I work, this tranquil calm,
that knows no life thus what I am
a cobbler slaved to work the tan
who hides the loss of wasted years,
who cuts the cloth with sharpened shears.
Yet light will filter deep within
to reach upon this battered stool,
Elf’s will come each darkened night
and work the minds of bitter fools.
**************
One Shoot Sunday provides a wonderful interview and picture prompt challenge inspired by Rob Hanson, who is accredited to the wonderful image above.
17 comments:
I had a feeling you were going down this route with the title Pete - I touched on it in my poem with wife Kit being the bootmaker - lovely grit and determination within this piece !! Steve
Beautiful story you've written. I enjoyed the terms your included you your piece.
I loved the way that you use the metaphor in first stanza.This is an excellent poem Mister "poem maker"! :)
some fine word play today mr marshall...dont know if the man has lost his marbles or is embroiled in a dark fairy tail of sorts
Wonderful poem, Pete. Thank you.
Rob Hanson
Ah play on the Elves and the shoemaker ~ bet he wished at times they did ~ Man and boy he learnt and honed his craft ~ knew 'now't else' (in Northern speak)and only ever had one job ~ a generation apart ~ and you crafted it masterly Pete through your ease of expression and read ~ brill ~ Lib ~ @Libithina
"alone I work, this tranquil calm,
that knows no life thus what I am
a cobbler slaved to work the tan
who hides the loss of wasted years,
who cuts the cloth with sharpened shears."
Super smooth flow. Just read Brian's comment and agree. The guy might be nuts. lol Great stuff, mate.
Beautiful, Pete. Such a wonderful flow and an involving story.
Pete...really dig this. you are a true story teller my friend who knows how to gently reach into the depths of the dark side and touch reality...the last two lines...killer!
i love the meter and flow of this piece.it brings to mind someone that has been at his craft for a while...also had visions of an old cartoon.nice.
Terrific, Pete-- you outdid yourself here-- I really like:
a cobbler slaved to work the tan
who hides the loss of wasted years,
who cuts the cloth with sharpened shears.
I haven't thought of The Shoemaker and His Elves in the longest time. You brought him back to life! What a wonderful perspective.
Your poems never fail in rhyme and essence, Pete! You continue to lure me into chanting with your lines. I love this poem because I, too, saw the image in a cloud of unreality inhabited by the elves. Thank you for sharing it!
You seem to have got right into the soul of the shoemaker with these amazing words, Pete. So well done.
ha ha....loved your comments...yep he is going postal!!!!
Wonderful narration. A great piece...!!
clogs and wheels
i must agree ~ he sounds insane, but it's a wonderfully written insanity.
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