A Pi Poem to Treasure Crocheted Afghans
A Pi Poem to Treasure Crocheted Afghans
by Alice Jane-Marie Massa
Hands that held
small,
plain crochet hooks,
as
if artist’s brushes,
turned strands of yarn into canvases
of warmth,
of love gifted to all
who received afghans
crafted by
Mother, Aunt Zita,
and–of course, the most prolific–
my paternal grandmother (Liza).
rippled, shell, or granny square
were patterns they crocheted in colors
to match taste,
decor,
occasion
for the lucky recipient.
Covered with warmth
of the wool, granny-square
afghan,
I thought of my mother
who still gives me
her caring,
her wisdom,
her amazing inspiration
for this poem.
This week,
my sister sent to the twins
two small afghans made by our mother
so that a brand new
generation can feel the warmth from the past
and learn
to smile, wrapped in hand-crocheted love.
NOTE: In my previous Wordwalk blog, I wrote briefly of how to create a pi poem and also included another pi poem of mine. While I divided this week’s pi poem into stanzas, you (the poet) decide whether to write the pi poem as one stanza or to divide the “piem” into two or more stanzas. Below I will repeat the exact same pi poem as above; but I will insert at the onset of each line the number of syllables in that particular line, according to the first thirty-five numerals of the mathematical pi. As in last week’s poem, I converted the first zero of pi into the number ten; thus, the second-from-the-last line of this post’s piem contains ten syllables. Please note in the comment section any question about writing a pi poem, and I will be happy to respond. Now, you have less than a week to craft your pi poem for Pi Day, March 14, 2017 (3/14/17).
A Pi Poem to Treasure Crocheted Afghans
by Alice Jane-Marie Massa
# First Stanza
(3) Hands that held
(1) small,
(4) plain crochet hooks,
(1) as
(5) if artist’s brushes,
(9) turned strands of yarn into canvases
(2) of warmth,
(6) of love gifted to all
(5) who received afghans
(3) crafted by
(5) Mother, Aunt Zita,
(8) and–of course, the most prolific–
(9) my paternal grandmother (Liza).
# Second Stanza
(7) rippled, shell, or granny square
(9) were patterns they crocheted in colors
(3) to match taste,
(2) decor,
(3) occasion
(8) for the lucky recipient.
# Third Stanza
(4) Covered with warmth
(8) of the wool granny-square
(2) afghan,
(6) I thought of my mother
(4) who still gives me
(3) her caring,
(3) her wisdom,
(8) her amazing inspiration
(3) for this poem.
# Fourth Stanza
(2) This week,
(7) my sister sent to the twins
(9) two small afghans made by our mother
(5) so that a brand new
(10) generation can feel warmth from the past
(2) and learn
(8) to smile, wrapped in hand-crocheted love.
On March 14 (3/14), next Tuesday, please enjoy a piece of PIE and a pi poem!
Alice and Leader Dog Willow
March 8, 2017, Wednesday
alice13wordwalk 
Alice–Enjoyed this poem as I have fond memories of a friend who made me an afghan that is used on the occasional afternoon nap. Now, you have convinced me that reading poetry is enjoyable, but I’m not sure you will hook me on this “pi” business as math is way down on my list. Still, it is an interesting spin on writing, and I can see this technique could be a good way to start someone on the path–Your second example with the numbers was especially helpful–anyway, I’ve learned to never say “never.”–Sue
Sue–Thanks for adding your comment about your afghan. Also, I am glad to hear that you are not ruling out a pi poem in your future.
Take care–Alice and Willow
Dear Alice,
Those unique afghans made by our loved ones have a special place in my heart and my home with one of Mother’s shell-stitch afghans on my bed and another in the living room as well as the one Grandma made for my college graduation on another bed and still another on our parents’ bed in the guest room. Each warms the room with love. I hope the new little twin girls in our family will love their afghans and share them with their own children someday.
With love and appreciation for all your words,
Mary
Mary–Thanks for adding your comment. With the first Indy car race of the season on Sunday, I remember the afghan which Mother made for me and which was all squares of black and white to resemble the checkered flag used to indicate the winner of a car race. This wool afghan’s squares were of a different, more closely crocheted pattern than the granny-square pattern. Now, my nephew and great-nephew have this “winning” afghan.
Another nice thought about afghans is that you gave one of Mother’s afghans to our little cousin Mia, born last June. Now, one of Mother’s afghans is in another country–Mexico.
Thankfully, our relatives made an abundance of afghans. Enjoy the weekend–Alice and Willow