Here are the four top poems of the recent Woodcarvers Poetry Competition, organized by Haroun from Finland.
These winners, plus an additional 46 entries have been published in a book available from the Carvers' Companion shop at CafePress; the book is sold at cost plus shipping. To visit the shop click HERE.
Category One - Best Carvers Poem Overall
Woodcarver's Heaven
I dreamed I died and went to the place
Where old woodcarvers go.
I watched the carvers sitting there
On the clouds as white as snow.
And I gazed on all my heroes
Making chips the whole day through.
There was Kaisersatt and Rondo
And Vicki Branson,too,
Tom Wolfe and Robert Guge
Suzuki and Vic Hood
Fred Cogelow, Bob Berry,
And Neil Cox, (he's so good).
Frank Russell had his power tools out,
Making a lot of dust.
Jeff Phares was carving a mountain man,
Another outstanding bust.
Dee Hajny was doing a Cougar,
Sleeping in a tree,
Rex Branson's carving was an Indian Chief,
Even bigger than me.
Muehlmatt was burning a Woodcock,
Pat Godin was painting a head,
Wayne Barton was doing a checkered plate
While Ransom was painting a Santa red.
I know I will never accomplish
All the things that my heroes have done.
I'll never share in the glory
Of all the ribbons they've won.
But when my carving here's all over with
And the end has come for me.
I hope I can join that group in the clouds
And carve on through Eternity.
Douglas Ridley, Paduch, KY
Category Two - Best Carvers Rhyme
A Life Untold, A Carvers Dream
Hoping to release a spirit left inside,
One man is carving, his heart, his soul, his pride.
Once a piece of wood, found from a tree,
He'd make to be, a work of art, a piece of history.
A life untold, a life that should,
Words of wisdom, from that spirit in the wood.
A twist, a turn, a polished shine,
Carved perfection, a storytellers find.
Each piece a masters love, a creators view,
The image of a carving, the carver that's in you.
Hidden to all eyes, a carvers dream,
Wood having come to life, reality it would seem.
Yet, there it is for all, to bring out from
inside,
One man's carving, his heart, his soul, his pride.
Harry Blacksmith
London, England
Category Three Funniest Carvers Poem
Just One Thing More To Dust
In his shop he did immure
Himself to carve a caricature.
"Just one knife I'll need", he thought
But now three dozen more he's bought.
At every carving show he'll find
Another book to stir the mind.
Fishers, cowboys, bears, a gnome
Now fill every shelf at home.
Though this, in fact, may be my fault
As each carving makes me halt
And, chuckling in delight, I say
"Oh, this one you can't give away."
So as around my home I go
These figures make me smile so.
Until it's time for me to dust
For then I'm very, very fussed.
For even though I do lose heart
To have to wipe each little part,
So many hours , such loving care,
Went into every strand of hair,
So fragile is each leg and arm
That I'm afraid to do them harm.
Thus each creation has it's place
Where I can see it's funny face.
Still Mikey sits and whittles more
And soon they'll cover all the floor.
But wait! This story doesn't end
For now my mind and hands intend
To try this hobby for myself -
Perhaps I'll try to carve an elf.
So, as we sit , the two of us
And carve away from dawn to dusk,
I have to think that now there's just
Another cutesy guy to dust.
Cathy Clark
Fanny Bay, BC, Canada
Category four Best Try at Woodcarvers Poetry
The Christmas Star
They watched the old man carving
as he sat out on his porch.
The shaving seemed so effortless
though he seemed so deep in thought.
"What will it be" a small girl asked?
"A whistle or some children's toy?"
"I think maybe a model train!"
exclaimed a somewhat louder boy.
"Please tell us Sir," one lady asked,
"what will the finished carving be?
Is it a part of some grand piece,
to be displayed for all to see?"
Then looking up the carver turned
and facing the admiring eyes,
'twas time to speak and clarify -
his comment bore a huge surprise
And gently rolling down his cheek,
he couldn't hide the falling tear.
"It's just a simple Christmas star
to decorate my tree next year."
"I lost my darling wife, you see.
She was my favourite help and friend.
Her comments always helped me to
improve my carving to the end."
"This simple star reminds me of her
and when I place it on the tree
I'll think of all the times we had
- a flood of golden memories. "
William J. Longhurst
Australia