4th Poem for National Poetry Month

 

KNITTING IN TIME OF CRISIS

Since we invaded Afghanistan and Iraq,

I’ve been knitting

a lot, some might say compulsively

if they were unkind.

I prefer to avoid the unkind. They are

so often aggressive, and after all,

I’m just knitting.

Simple garter-stitch scarves

of loopy, fluffy novelty yarns, long enough

to wind again and again around the neck

or tie behind the back.

Sweaters with intricate Fair Isle

patterns in parliaments of colors.

Heavy afghans of hand-spun wool

with cables twisting and winding into paths

across a snowy map.

The last time I was so knitting-obsessed,

I was trying to quit

a dangerous habit, needed

to keep my hands occupied. Now I knit

socks on tiny wooden spears, soft armor

to keep the feet of sons and nephews dry and warm.

In my sleep, I pull one loop through another

to the soft click of long bamboo sticks,

creating a whole fabric

from one long, tangled thread.

Published in Heart’s Migrations (Tia Chucha Press, 2009)

Don't forget my pre-order contest for Every Hidden Fear (pub date May 6th) with its grand prize of a one-of-a-kind, handknit, multicolored, luxury fiber, lace shawl and two second prizes of character-naming rights in the next Skeet Bannion novel!