Tag Archive | artisans

The One Who Can

The Surprising One

Can’t is the worst word that is written or spoken.
It does more harm than slander and outrageous lies.
On it, many a strong spirit may be broken.
Many good purposes die to not come again.
From the lips of the thoughtless it springs when they rise.
It robs us of our courage – both women and men.

It rings in our ears like a timely-sent warning
And will laugh as we falter and fall by the way.
Can’t is the father of all feeble endeavor
And the parent of terror and the half-assed chore.
It weakens the efforts of artisans and may
Make the most clever toiler an indolent thing.

It poisons the soul of the one with a vision
As it stifles in infancy many a plan.
It greets honest toiling with open derision
And it mocks at the hopes and the dreams of the one
With the gumption to start out by saying, “I can.”
It will put quite the kibosh on getting things done.

Can’t cannot be a word uttered without blushing.
To do so would be but a big symbol of shame.
Ambition and courage it daily is crushing.
It will blight one’s own purpose and make everything
Seem as if one does not have a stake in the game.
Hate the word with a passion. No good can it bring.

Refuse to let the word find a home in your brain.
As a creature of terror, do arm against it.
It’s the foe to ambition. It bows only to
Courage, patience, and skill. These are only a few
Of the things that defeat it. One should never quit.
Say, “I Can” to your life. You have so much to gain.

Keeping Tradition Alive

An Effort Of Endurance

Cost of Being increases are not to be paid
To traditional artisans of India.
Expensive raw materials increase in price.
They’re lucky to break even, yet they sacrifice
Time and effort preserving ancient media.
Artifacts from this fort town are craftily made.

Molten metals are used and lots of chiseling.
The process calls for patience, for months it can take
To produce just one item. Focus and detail
Are the skills necessary. All at their avail
Are quaint tools and equipment, and for culture’s sake,
They offer to the world an aesthetic wellspring.

Melted pieces of copper and zinc fill the mold
That is packed using body weight with dirt and sand.
After buffing and polishing, bathing is done
In a sulfate solution. Each and every one
Has a signature color. They then etch by hand
Captivating designs for the world to behold.

  Wire is tapped into carved grooves. The rare soil they use
Comes only from the city of Bali. Therefore,
There’s a special uniqueness to art from this place.
Gig economies prosper but at a slow pace
In these times become urgent with unending war.
What can help such a market that’s destined to lose?