Easter Gloves
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I am posting the above, with a typed translation below, as a shaped poem for the wonderful Kerry O’Connor’s post on With Real Toads. I have a great deal of trouble “getting” shaped poetry– in this regard, I extend my sincerest apologies to Hedge Witch–(Verse Escape)–for mucking up her comment box this morning with my confusion. She has a wonderful shaped poem.
Here’s the typed version of mine–
Easter meant ham and little white gloves, one
as pink as a tulip, the other white
as snow; Easter was like that–sometimes falling
in the harsh blow of cherry just blossoming–
I’d have to hold onto my new straw hat–other years, my mother
would glisten in her salmon-colored spring coat, a fish
out of water…
The minister had a way of torquing his hands
like a tense crocus or dragnet cage
to focus our attention, say, on the stone rolled away
from the tomb, but my eyes followed instead
the seams of my little white gloves worrying
that they were already smudged,
not understand that is the way
of stitching, to pick up in its threads
bits of the world, the dust
of so many stones.
Tags: Easter gloves poem, little white gloves, manicddaily, shaping a poem by hand, smudged glove poem, the next one will be about ham, the tracks of fingertips
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ManicDDaily 
April 20, 2014 at 3:40 pm
Very creative shaping K, I love how the words run up & down ~ specially like – Easter was like that–sometimes falling
in the harsh blow of cherry just blossoming
& stitching of gloves in the second part ~
Thanking for typing it too – makes it easier to read ~
Happy Easter ~
April 20, 2014 at 7:04 pm
Thanks, Grace. Yes, I think it is probably quite impossible on a computer! k.
April 20, 2014 at 4:13 pm
This is just smashing, k. I have NO idea how you did that complex a shape and I am in awe– if it was your infernal device, I take all my reservations about it back–thank you for putting the intricate and very beautiful poem in regular form, as I could only see gloves with a vague idea there were words involved(my eyes.). I love the final lines about seams and smudges, bits of the world, the dust of all the stones that must be rolled.
April 20, 2014 at 7:04 pm
Ha. Well, thanks much. I used the same iPad app I use for most of my illustrations, unless they are on paper, which is Brushes. It is a “fingerpainting” app – really terrific. Thanks much. Sorry for all the confusion. k.
April 20, 2014 at 5:02 pm
this is a new favorite, karin. the white gloves and the ministers hands, those solid layers with such beautiful presentation. the dust with the stone rolled away, the line about stitching, the amazing colorful introductory stanza. this is really wonderful.
April 20, 2014 at 6:48 pm
Great work! I love it written on hands…”Easter was like that–sometimes falling in the harsh blow of cherry just blossoming–” Beautiful
April 20, 2014 at 7:03 pm
Thanks, Susie. k.
April 20, 2014 at 7:01 pm
smiles…very cool shape poem…and dont we all, like those gloves, pick up bits of the world as we go along? avery cool write k
April 20, 2014 at 9:48 pm
I can just see the small child with her gloves on Easter Sunday. Lovely shape poem!
April 21, 2014 at 2:48 am
beautiful color and smell of Easter…and…how did you manage that shape?…such a wonderful shape poem…
April 21, 2014 at 8:01 am
Thank you, Sumana–I am a great fan of an iPad app called “Brushes,” which is a fingerpainting/watercolor app, but can be used for many things, like a shape poem. It is cheating a little bit, I think, but I tell myself it did take a few steps! k.
April 21, 2014 at 3:05 am
it’s good when our gloves and hands get dirty along the way… living life is never sterile and jesus got this hands dirty quite a bit.. in a good way… hope you had a lovely easter weekend
April 21, 2014 at 7:59 am
You are right. Thank you, Claudia–hope all is well and that you had a happy Easter. k.
April 21, 2014 at 9:18 am
This is just gorgeous! Splendid imagery.
April 21, 2014 at 9:29 am
Thanks, MZ. k.
On Mon, Apr 21, 2014 at 10:18 AM, ManicDDaily wrote:
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April 21, 2014 at 9:21 am
Really love this. Brings back fond memories and hopes for the future.
April 21, 2014 at 9:29 am
Thanks so much, Yousei. I ‘m sorry I’ve not been around as much as I’d like. Stressful time. k.
On Mon, Apr 21, 2014 at 10:21 AM, ManicDDaily wrote:
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April 21, 2014 at 11:14 am
No worries. Those times ebb and flow. I’ll see you (and enjoy the visit) when I see you.
April 21, 2014 at 11:02 am
I love this poem for so many reasons – the reminiscence of childhood memory, the close comfort of family and those little stitches with the dust of life clinging. Your shaped version is a fun read, but nothing detracts from the power of the words themselves.
April 21, 2014 at 11:27 am
Thanks, Kerry–I fear the shaped version is a bit illegible. I honestly wasn’t sure how the words would fit though I did change some things as I was going, and back track now and again, but if I had more time and wanted to stick to the shape, I would redo it, trying to be a bit more uniform in print size and maybe making the fingers a bit thicker–I didn’t quite realize how it would be until I was already nearly through–
I did enjoy writing them out though! Thanks much. I hope you had a lovely holiday. k.
On Mon, Apr 21, 2014 at 12:02 PM, ManicDDaily wrote:
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April 21, 2014 at 12:02 pm
Karin, these memories are so special and echo my own. One of the things I regret about not having children is being able to create those kinds of experiences with them, for them. The poetry shape was so good. And the way you used the gloves for reflection in the second stanza was striking. My first read I saw, instead of stones, stories. And that works too. I have not-too-good vision so I’m glad you give us the print copy as well.
April 21, 2014 at 12:24 pm
This is very wonderful – the memories and the imginative shape of the poem.
April 21, 2014 at 8:16 pm
I find these images, these detailed memories fascinating and endearing and the fact you made them into gloves! So cool!