THE LAST FIFTH GRADE OF EMERSON ELEMENTARY

THE LAST FIFTH GRADE OF EMERSON ELEMENTARY
April 12, 2016

Friday, May 6, 2011

Sheep & Wool Festival

Happy Poetry Friday, everyone.

This weekend is the Maryland Sheep & Wool Festival at Howard County Fairgrounds, where I live.

It is billed as one of the biggest all-things-yarn events in the country. My daughter and I went for the first time last year, when I was still fairly new to knitting.

Several hand-made socks, hats and scarves later, I admit to being obsessed. How do I know? I am going to a fancy-heel knitting class this morning. My dreams have been filled with yarn festivities.

Long before yarn took over my sleep, I paired with photographer Jerry Weinstein for a poetry/art project. He is a local nature photographer. I pored over hundreds of his images, but couldn't get one face out of my mind. A precursor of things to come?

Baaaad Hair Day


“At the Sheep and Wool Festival: Howard County Fairgrounds, MD” – Photo by Jerry Weinstein


You know you want
To comb your fingers
Through my
Rock star locks.


Curls hang
From my forehead
Like clumps of ripe grapes.
Your mouth says, “Oh.”


No comb’s going to tame
This shagginess,
Tease out summer grass
Left from romps in the meadow.


You think you can
Pull off my look,
Weave this wavy mane
Into a woolly sweater,


Knit my fleece
For a pair of fuzzy socks?
You know the truth:
It looks better on me.

Why don’t you just
Take a picture?

Laura Shovan

Sorry for the poor quality of the photo (a picture of a picture). You get the idea!

Hosting Poetry Friday today is Terry at Family Bookshelf. Enjoy -- and if you're anywhere near central Maryland this weekend, stop by the Sheep & Wool Festival.

7 comments:

jama said...

Love love love this, Laura! What a fun poem you've knitted together. The photo is adorable, too.

Amy L V said...

Oh, what a fun poem and photo! And what a glorious weekend you will have. I am jealous! We have new baby lambs (Icelandics)now, and the other night Hope called me up..."Mom...will you come up to the pasture? It's a great frolicking night!" Have a great time! (I hope you find many treasures.) A.

Martha Calderaro said...

You've knitted a wonderful poem! And sheer-shear poetry: "You think you can / pull off my look" Great photo, too! Enjoy the festival!

Author Amok said...

Thanks, All. I can't wait to visit with all the livestock. There is a sheep to project contest at the festival (contestants sheer the sheep, spin the yarn, knit a finished project from the wool).

Amy -- the lambs must be darling. How sweet!

Heidi Mordhorst said...

We like to think that sheep are--well, a bit dull, but clearly this sheep is sharp! Superb piece of writing, Laura. May I borrow a line from your intro: "long before yarn took over my sleep"?

Thanks for a thrilling Maryland Poetry Month. I'm going back to read more of April now...

Author Amok said...

Hi, Heidi. I'm glad you like my sheep-with-attitude. Credit goes to Jerry, who is a talented enough photographer to capture a sheep's personality.

Borrow the line with my blessing. Can't wait to hear what you do with it.

Mary Lee said...

That sheep has one baaaaaaad attitude!