A Shift
Lately,
Everywhere I walk,
I’m wrapped by webs.
I don’t see them
till they’ve wound
their silky way
about my face, neck and shoulders.
Before,
I would have recoiled,
flailing, terrified
of the weaver.
Now,
I luxuriate
in the delicate caress
and march forward,
strands trailing behind,
a sheer, weightless scarf.
I’m unsure
how to explain the change.
Have I come to appreciate
them
for what they are,
separate from my dread?
Do I find
their airiness
less alien
because I am lighter now
and float through days?
have I finally released
the unnecessary?
I can now
thank the weaver.
That was written by Carly Reid, our former summer intern at work. Carly was diagnosed with scleroderma after her placement with us, the summer before last, and she died shortly before this Christmas at the age of 27. You can tell by the poem and the photo what a beautiful and talented person she was. We really miss her.
I’ve done some research into the shawl knitting ministry and I’ve found some Peruvian brushed alpaca to knit a shawl for her mom and a scarf for her sister. Carly spent some important time in South America and I thought it was an appropriate yarn. It’s a sad enough story as it is, but one of Carly’s sisters died a few years back in a car accident.
And today is the 35th anniversary of my Dad’s death. That’s a long time.
Life's a Stitch 
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