poemranker ::Glassblowers by Christof

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Free verse № 15984

Glassblowers

by Christof

Member since 2002 · Posted 19 Sep 2002 · 21 comments

I am just a tourist. I gawp as men behind a grille, Paid to spend their lungs in glass, Blow globes and bowls and jugs And swans, each one the cask Of someone's breathing. In the shop I cradle in my hands a life. All breakages must be paid for And I can't afford the price.

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mean 6.00 weighted 5.88 rank 1529 views 286 View voting details →

17 votes so far. Yours would make 18.17 votes so far

21 comments

[8] god'swife 19-Sep-02/8:06 AM Reply
Much tastier. I can't afford it either, but I'm the bull in the china shop.
[6] <~> 19-Sep-02/8:30 AM Reply
do you need the first line? i son't think so...
[n/a] Christof › <~> 19-Sep-02/8:34 AM Reply
You may be right. I know I ahd a reason for putting it there in the first place-some sort of idea of myself as a dilettante, a mere spectator. But I s'pose that's implicit in the rest of the poem.
[8] god'swife › Christof 19-Sep-02/8:38 AM Reply
I like the fist line. It sets the scene. I don't have to waste brain time extracting it from the rest of the poem.
[n/a] Christof › god'swife 19-Sep-02/8:40 AM Reply
I'll tell you something else, if poetandknowit reads this he'll have areal go at the swans. even though they're not even real birds.
[8] god'swife › Christof 19-Sep-02/8:40 AM Reply
Also, I think the poet is always a tourist. That's why we're able to write. I like you admitting to it.
[n/a] Christof › god'swife 19-Sep-02/8:41 AM Reply
Oh yes, I'm a definite tourist. I never get involved in anything meaningful.
[8] god'swife › Christof 19-Sep-02/8:46 AM Reply
Don't fool yourself, everything is meaningful. Even a good crap. Especially a good crap.
[n/a] Christof › god'swife 19-Sep-02/8:47 AM Reply
Especially first thing in the morning.
[6] kawakurdi 19-Sep-02/11:22 AM Reply
I agree with Zin. The first line is out of order within the structure of the poem and the title is enough to create the sense of the scene.
[n/a] Frass › kawakurdi 19-Sep-02/6:32 PM Reply
Nice poem, Crstf. I saw the glass blowers of Zwiesel, Germany, once. I have NO clue how they do what they do and would make one red hot gelatinous mess of it if I had to give it a whirl.
[9] poetandknowit 20-Sep-02/8:48 AM Reply
My morning Christof and one of my favorites!! Were you in Branson, Missouri. Glassblowers everywhere. Damn, you even have birds in glass, impressive. The last stanza is one of the best I have seen on the site! Excellent stuff! Now to the poo...
[n/a] Christof › poetandknowit 20-Sep-02/8:51 AM Reply
I never was there. These glassblowers were in Ireland. I'm surprised you didn't take a swipe at those fragile glass swans! But thanks very much anyhow. And hey there's a bonus new poem on here for the weekend, be sure to check it out.
[n/a] daniella › Christof 21-Oct-02/8:54 PM Reply
you are a photographer with words. a tourist with a notepad. and now i read that you were never even there? telepathic-voyeur-sketchpad-in-tow-behind-the-windshield-of-the-mind.
[7] wunboi 21-Sep-02/11:04 PM Reply
Neat,precise but marred by the first line .I love the irony of the second stanza.
[7] Quarton 5-Dec-02/6:24 PM Reply
Really liked this one. Short and meaningful with great rhythm. One typo, "gawp" should be "gawk."
[9] <{Baba^Yaga}> 16-Jun-03/9:24 PM Reply
You make me laugh. You are Mr. Pig, aren't you.
[9] <{Baba^Yaga}> › <{Baba^Yaga}> 16-Jun-03/9:30 PM Reply
Maybe not, unless you would purposely rack sack your haikus to rid the scent of us mad hounds and anny up on your poetic prose. Ah, who cares, you're a damn good poet regardless of who you are, or maybe not, maybe because of who you are. Listen children, I've had an epiphany, live life to the fullist, taste the good and the bad to know the difference, be a jack of all trades.
[n/a] Christof › <{Baba^Yaga}> 19-Jun-03/5:36 AM Reply
Hey, I'm no Mr Pig, I was here long before him. But thanks anyway!
[n/a] -=Dark_Angel=-, P.I. 17-Jun-03/7:32 AM Reply
I nearly took a fork to my eye after I read "Paid to spend their lungs in glass".
[n/a] Christof › -=Dark_Angel=-, P.I. 24-Jun-03/3:27 AM Reply
Is that good or bad?