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Sunday 5 June 2011

The Shoemaker


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:

Anonymous said...

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

Anonymous said...

Beautiful story you've written. I enjoyed the terms your included you your piece.

Despoina Theodoridou @moltoassai said...

I loved the way that you use the metaphor in first stanza.This is an excellent poem Mister "poem maker"! :)

Brian Miller said...

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

Rob Hanson said...

Wonderful poem, Pete. Thank you.

Rob Hanson

libithina said...

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

dustus said...

"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.

Eileen said...

Beautiful, Pete. Such a wonderful flow and an involving story.

Anonymous said...

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!

Unknown said...

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.

Jenne' R. Andrews said...

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.

Patricia said...

I haven't thought of The Shoemaker and His Elves in the longest time. You brought him back to life! What a wonderful perspective.

Alegria Imperial said...

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!

Christine Ramsay said...

You seem to have got right into the soul of the shoemaker with these amazing words, Pete. So well done.

Marshy said...

ha ha....loved your comments...yep he is going postal!!!!

gautami tripathy said...

Wonderful narration. A great piece...!!


clogs and wheels

Anonymous said...

i must agree ~ he sounds insane, but it's a wonderfully written insanity.