Within the maw of the oven

Like looking inside a Faberge
Like a living foundry of Hell
the maw of the oven
glowing orange and red

Into the mouth the glass went
hammered by the heat
dancing in motion and form
giving to the artist’s hands


May 3, 2010
reading the following poem, Glassworks” at the
1st meeting of a poetry group
at the Suncook Senior Center
in response to the reading by another of
“The Village Blacksmith”,
by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

&
http://www.mvglassworks.com/gallery.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Faberg%C3%A9_egg


-------------------
Glassworks

Mesmerized, watching
The skill, artistry
Effortlessness in the heat
Of the sweating craftsmen
In the beach air
On the Vineyard

Living,
Molten glass, clear
Droop on the shaft
Entering the
Orange maw
Mouth of the furnace

Glow yellow
from the warming
Glistening wet
Grow with the blow
Liquid and free

Spin and catch
Supple flesh
Add color and form
Enter again
Translucence now
Hot gases
Fill the space
Wipe brow
Enter again

Cool and gel
Cut from the pipe
Clutched like a robin’s egg
By a toddler’s wonder
Placed to firm and harden
Into permanent wonder


Written 6/20/04 14:06, about Martha’s Vineyard Glassworks, somewhere I spent hours, over many summers in the 1990’s watching bowls, pitchers, pictures, and more, come to life.

All of my poems are copyrighted by Raymond A. Foss, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012. All rights reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss for usage. See all 19,930+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

The Shape of the Glass

The shape of the glass changing
fluid, living art,
cooling slowly
kept red hot

Glowing as he spun the pipe
moving in gentle time
loving the form into life
one color added at a time

Into the furnace, the fire,
the orb went, dancing in the flames
out again to be turned and shaped
loving brought to life



February 11, 2010
about Martha’s Vineyard Glassworks, somewhere I spent hours, over many summers in the 1990’s watching bowls, pitchers, pictures, and more, come to life.



Copyright by Raymond A. Foss, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010
Contact me at Ray Foss
for usage.