Tuesday, July 10, 2012

Dropped in delivery ...




Love is this broken edge –
that everyone feels is a flaw.
        In one sense, it is:
    a spot you can't polish,
    that will never be perfect.
        In one sense it is.

        Buyers hate the broken edge –
    but every craftsman knows:
            that is where
                the paint holds,
            that is where
                the glue soaks in.

                And that is where you see –
                on an old chair, a bed frame
                            “This is pine” or
                            “This is fiberboard”
                        or “This is maple
                                with poplar underneath.”

                            “This will hold” or “This will break”
                        or “This is worth cleaning off the pigeon
                                shit and green dust; this is worth some
                                sanding and varnish; this is
                                a table to set your
                                children around.”

    Love is this broken edge
    that you will always run your finger
            over because it is not
    so smooth. That is how
    you find your
    chair in the dark.

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