Heartwood

Summary

Carolyn Hastings reflects on the prompt "Furniture" by Victor Sarkin in her poem "Heartwood," drawing parallels between the wear and care of old wooden furniture and the human heart, ultimately expressing a message of resilience and revival through love and dedication.

Abstract

In response to the writing prompt "#21: Furniture" from Victor Sarkin's "Genius in a Bottle," Carolyn Hastings crafts a poignant free-verse poem titled "Heartwood." The poem personifies an old table, likening its worn and neglected state to a fatigued heart, yet it acknowledges the enduring beauty and strength beneath the surface. Hastings describes the table's grain and texture, suggesting a history of pain and longing, but also the potential for renewal. She speaks of hope permeating the wood's pores and the transformative power of love and care, which can restore and revive. The poem concludes with an invitation to other writers to contribute to the prompt, and Hastings expresses gratitude to Sarkin and the editorial team for the opportunity to share her work.

Opinions

The author sees old furniture as a metaphor for the human condition, with its capacity for resilience and renewal.
There is an appreciation for the intrinsic beauty and strength that remains despite the wear and tear of life.
The poem suggests that love and dedication are essential in the process of healing and restoration.
Hastings values the creative process and community engagement, as evidenced by her invitation to other writers to participate in the prompt.
She acknowledges the influence of Victor Sarkin and the "Genius in a Bottle" team on her work and the broader writing community.

GiaB writing prompt #21: furniture

The table stripped bare just like her heart worn dull and fatigued years of punishing toil…

..and neglect

the lustre all gone faded into the daze the strain and the stains of the living…

…and hurt

fine, striated grain still smooth to the touch strength and beauty within left humble…

…and wanting

hope seeps through the pores lifeblood of creation heartwood never dies but lies dormant…

…and waiting

the skillful hands of the knowing hone, buff and polish restore and revive with caring dedication…

…and love

I’ve been pondering for over a week how to respond to Victor Sarkin’s latest Genius in a Bottle writing prompt — #21: Furniture. For a while it was looking like I’d be passing this one up.

I knew I wanted to write about an old wooden piece of furniture — a desk or a table, maybe — but that was as far as I could get. Then this afternoon the words for the opening line of my poem came to me, and bit-by-bit the rest followed. I hope I’ve done justice to the topic.

Thank you as always for reading. Special thanks to Victor Sarkin and the editorial team at Genius in a Bottle for offering this writing prompt and for accepting my piece into their publication. 🙏 💕

Poetry | Free Verse

Heartwood

GiaB writing prompt #21: furniture

The Dresser Drawer

GiaB writing prompt #21