spokeshave (poem) by john k zimmerman on AuthorsDen

spokeshave
by john k zimmerman → (All Poetry by john k zimmerman)
Rated "G" by the Author.

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this is turning into quite the sub-collection. "Toolbox Reflections" sounds like a good working title. > illustration is a good likeness of a modern, all metal spokeshave > FYI tool is pushed, not pulled

tonight the spokeshave is making the shavings fly— spokeshave from the cooper’s toolbox. cooper’s not wheelwright’s, as the name suggests. wheelwright a lost trade, wheelwright, joiner, cooper, woodcarver, wood turner, shipwright, patternmaker. all changed, changed or banished, banished by the inescapable drive to deskill the work place. here and there, people resist a cabinetmaker, a potter a weaver few value their work expecting to pay coolie prices for a master’s work my spokeshave is making more shavings just for the joy of it. it is a cheeky little tool but once you get it sharpened and set up, it works reliably and well, happily making the shavings fly it seems that pride, like skill, is being banished from the workplace. not the pride that leads to perdition but pride in skill, in job, pride that says “I did that, and that, I did well.” the pride that a human being ought to legitimately feel in the work of his hands and the sweat of his brow proud skilled human beings are harder to bully, and exploit than unskilled brutes shackled to minimum wage. the suits, the managers know this and act accordingly. my spokeshave is nearly finished I adjust the blade to give the finest of cuts. the tool makes the shavings fly tiny delicate curls of wood falling gracefully to the floor

Reviewed by Regis Auffray

Reviewed on April 9, 2005

Very nicely done, John. You are teaching me another side of living. Love and peace. Regis

Reviewed by E T Waldron

Reviewed on April 6, 2005

This is another wonderful piece of work John!very cleverly done!

Eileen

Reviewed by jude forese

superbly crafted!

Reviewed by Ed Matlack

Reviewed on April 5, 2005

And here I thought you were sticking your face in the spokes of a turning bicycle wheel, getting your shave that way...LOL! ED

Reviewed by L. Figgins

Fine, Fine write, John. If this doesn't express the state of the world today, I don't know what! The craftsman is truly a rare breed. Mass production at low wage is the goal. Jobs moved overseas for cheaper production cost. This is why old things are increasing in value and attempts are being made to SIMULATE craftsmanship in building materials. Sad indeed...

Reviewed by Tinka Boukes

Thanks for this offering....most interesting..craftsman!!

Love Tinka

Reviewed by Carrie Deveney

Beautiful!! The lack of skill and pride in today's average worker is indeed sad. :)
-Carrie