clay bowl
i watch people around me making pots out of clay,
they seem to sculpt and varnish them within one day
when i look at the clay and try to mould it myself,
i realise the tools of mine are out of reach on the shelf
while others cut and paste their bowls with string and their knives,
the methods i’m using breaks my piece and i cry
they scratch the names of loved ones into the edge of their work,
and hand them gently onwards to the people they call ‘home’
but i’m not even done yet- i’m working so hard,
i’m trying to make a bowl but it’s broken and my fingers are tired.
eventually i hold it,
all polished and brand new
and i know it took me much longer than the others,
but i made this bowl for you
