Knitted Verses

I found this poem on the Guardian site (love it) and thought it was too interesting to pass up. I love knitting and I love language, so putting the two together sounds about right to me. I finally discovered that books on tape solve the issue of trying to meld together the mutually exclusive activities of knitting and reading. This was a great discovery. I have a friend who is still trying to wed driving and knitting. We'll see how that goes.

How to Knit a Poem – Gwyneth Lewis

The whole thing starts with a single knot
and needles. A word and a pen. Tie a loop
in nothing. Look at it. Cast on. Repeat

the procedure until you have a line
that you can work with.
It’s a pattern made of relation alone,

my patience, my rhythm, till empty bights
create a fabric that can be worn,
if you’re lucky and practiced. It’s never too late

to pick up dropped stitches, each hole a clue
to something that might be bothering you,
though I link mind with ribbons and pretend

I meant them to happen. I make a net
of meaning that I carry around
portable, to work on sound

in trains and terrible waiting rooms.
It’s thought in action. It redeems
odd corners of disposable time,

making them fashion. It’s the kind of work
that keeps you together. The neck’s too tight,
but tell me honestly: How do I look?

Copyright 2007, BBC
From: How to Knit a Poem
Publisher: BBC Radio 4, London, 2007

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