Here’s a poem from the new book Gloved Against Blood by Cindy Veach.
For more poems, pick up your copy of Cindy Veach’s Gloved Against Blood from the CavanKerry Press store.
Lives Brought to Life
Lives Brought to Life
Here’s a poem from the new book Gloved Against Blood by Cindy Veach.
For more poems, pick up your copy of Cindy Veach’s Gloved Against Blood from the CavanKerry Press store.
CavanKerry is grateful for past and current support received from the following organizations:
Automatically in my mind, I picture an old-timey scene, a mother and daughter in rocking chairs placed in front of a fireplace for warmth and light. Sewing lessons become lessons in life and on being female. Love the natural poignancy and warmth throughout each stanza. The girl’s sewing needle pricks her finger, but the poet uses the verb “kisses,” which positively connotes that shedding blood is being savored and celebrated. The girl’s shed blood spot on the muslin is like a red “bead” she placed purposely as she would a ribbon. Her fondness for her remnants can be interpreted almost as a fondness for her future offspring. A girl is learning to be more than just a seamstress; she’s also learning in the unspoken space between mother and daughter how to become a mother, teacher and creator herself. The dishes are done, which to me implies the preparation of dinner for the menfolk, but the male presence feels completely absent from this quaint scene. This poem is genuinely about women and for women. It’s beautifully composed and I’d like it to be longer. However, it isn’t necessary for me to learn what the actual time period is or where the men are, because while the poem feels old-fashioned, it’s really a timeless epitome of mother-daughter bonding. The metaphorical “knot” in the final stanza ties the poem up into a neat package you want to give as a gift to a dear friend.