I’m not much of a poet, and I have no idea where this one came from, but I do know that I’ve always had a special place for cats. I see them as my comic relief.
I’ve only knit one thing in my life and that was a big mistake; my solo attempt was quickly unraveled and the yarn (along with those treacherous needles) donated to a knitting maven. The misery of that one experience cast all thoughts of the craft from my mind until this month’s WEP showed up.
Somehow the jester-cat and my fledging knowledge of knitting (accompanied with a failure’s dislike) came together. Feel free to unravel it and donate the remains to a real poet.
Knitting With Yarn 101
Dropped stitches.
Mistakes. Oh so many.
Search them out. Fish them up. Is that how it’s done?
Gram knew;
then Mom.
I never understood dropped stitches.
No yarn in my life.
Bring in the Cat.
Tangled. Smug with success.
But those were other days.
Before.
Gauge and tension.
Problems. Oh, so many.
Find the larger needle, the larger the yarn. Is that how it’s done?
Gram knew;
then Mom.
I never understood gauge and tension.
No yarn in my life.
Bring in the Cat.
Crouched. Tense with expectation.
But those were other days.
Before.
Casting off.
Endings. Oh, so many.
Two stitches. One over the other, then off the needle. Is that how it’s done?
Gram knew;
then Mom;
then one ebony day that skein fell into my palm, unraveling.
And there was yarn in my life.
Bring in the Cat.
Stretched long with acceptance.
These are the new days.
After.
HUGE congratulations on your WEP award.
Beautiful and bittersweet. I’m not normally one for modern poetry, but I really like this one.
I like cats, and cats like yarn, and there’s no harm as long as they don’t try to eat it. Or ribbon. I’ve had several cats, but none at present. I like this little poem and the repetition about who would know about knitting, etc My MIL was a fantastic knitter, but she couldn’t get me to be. I was able to do more with crochet, and embroidery. Nicely done!
Cats and yarn are okay together, if they don’t try to eat it. . . An interesting poem which I can identify with as I had trouble with knitting, but was able to make a few things with crochet (easier to follow). My MIL was fantastic at knitting, but no one in my family had the knack. You brought us humour in your story and that counts for a lot.
Cats and yarn are always a great and often messy combination. Well done
Knitting could be relaxing and fun if I knew how to do it. A cat would definitely add to the mess.
I loved this, Lee. What a perfect combination, yarn and cats:)
An interesting and creative take on the prompt. What Nila said: She said everything I wanted to say.
PS:
C.Lee, I just read your comment when I went back to my blog for my URL. You also felt Nila had said what you wanted to say. Isn’t that weird as in nice weird? Nila should start charging for this mind reading gift of hers.
Great poem! And I’m with you on the “knitting is hard” thought. I have crocheted and knitted, and I can tell you crocheting is much easier, because you can rip out stitches and start up from where it makes sense. That just can’t happen in knitting. Also, all I ever learned how to knit was a washcloth for doing dishes, and I made a bunch of them, stopped for a year or so, and now I can’t remember how. Hmm. And my washcloths are all worn out now . . .
I love your poem. One of my biggest problems in knitting is casting on. One of these days I am going to get it. I love cats too, and I am always fascinated at their reaction what they do when they see a ball of yarn.
Shalom aleichem,
Pat G
Obviously, you don’t have to be a master poet to write a masterful poem. I often make a mess of things, including knitting and other crafts.
my heart tedders
upon that line
that you wrote
before your rhyme
A real poet
How could that be
For I read your
poem to me
Yes I saw the
Cat at play
And the task that
Before you lay
How could a real
Poet you not be
For in this story
A poet I truly see
my heart tedders
upon that line
that you wrote
before your rhyme
A real poet
How could that be
For I read your
poem to me
Yes I saw the
Cat at play
And the task that
Before you lay
How could a real
Poet you not be
For in this story
A poet I truly see
Nicely done Clem. Perhaps you got the hang of both (poetry and knitting) for a short while at least. My mother tried to teach me; yep, I always preferred letting the cat play with the string, lol.
Where to begin? I absolutely love your poem – so much layered meaning in it, the metaphor of the yarn and the collective knowledge of generations of women.
We each get a ball of yarn falling into our palm one ‘ebony day’, and we each have to make of it what we can. Some knit or weave, some give it to the kittens to have fun with. Both are supremely valid ways to use up the wool imho. There are a thousand ways to unravel and kiss the yarn, no disrespect to Rumi. Thank you for lifting my day with your poem.
I’m sure no human ever had the delight in a ball of yarn as do cats.
Lee you had a disclaimer at the beginning, trying to fool us into believing you weren’t much of a poet. Liar! This was awesome on so many levels. Got the history, got the feelings of joy then sadness. Memorable. Thanks so much for being inspired and posting for the WEP challenge. I’ll be back for another read. 🙂
I am so not a poet, but I did knit as a kid. Even made a poncho. Liked your poem a lot with the inner meaning and repetition of the family and cat.
It’s been a very long time since I tried knitting. I took lessons, but never got to finish them, therefore I never finished the project. But I love sewing, and I’m sure I’d love knitting if I knew how to finish. Kittens always know what to do with the yarn. Lovely poem!
Yeah, I couldn’t do anything but ball up yarn. Cats sure know what to do with it. Make a mess. Or eat it, which ends badly. Great verse indeed.
Nice poem. Brought a smile to my face despite the interlude of sadness of the “ebony day”. What an evocative metaphor.
I can knit, but I use clothing stores too. A lot. It’s cheaper and faster. 🙂
Knitting isn’t easy to pick up. It takes time. And persistence. We were all awful in the beginning.
But, if it’s not your thing, it’s not your thing. And that’s cool. We all have those things that just aren’t for us.
Love, love, love your poem. On multiple levels. Those ebony days link us to others in ways we could never have understood. Until we do.
And I have often said that if only I could knit I could create another cat with the fur that mine so generously discard.
Cool:) I’m not much with yarn myself, but I greatly respect the art:)
Alex has a point about clothing stores! Although I can knit and crochet, I’ve never done either very well. So I’ll stick with writing. 🙂 Thanks for sharing your poem.
That was a pretty awesome poem. Yarn “things” have always alluded me.
Hehe, I’ve tried my hand at yarn too, but it’s one of those creative venues I never had a knack for.
Hi Lee … I couldn’t do it either, and cannot stand wool near me – solved my days of knitting squares. Brilliant poem – loved it … and yes the cat would catch the thread and happily pull unravelling the item. So good to see … loved it – cheers Hilary
Hi, Cheryl-Lee!
It’s good to see you today, dear friend! I thoroughly enjoyed reading Knitting With Yarn 101. Even if I had the desire and skill to knit with yarn, I lack the patience to see such a project through to completion. My mother, on the other hand, spent countless hours down in the basement hooking rugs and making sweaters.
Thank you for this entertaining “yarn,” dear friend Cheryl-Lee! 🙂
I think the cat knows what to do with it!
Don’t worry that you can’t knit. That’s what they make clothing stores for.