I remember you
But you may not remember where you’re from
You prop yourself against my house’s foundation
Beveled but unsanded
— With what devotion to plumb line did the woodworker wield the planer —
Poised at any moment to be uplifted and fixed in the place bestowed on you
Shunted aside by carpenters who overbought supplies
You ended up not in the fine molding around the mantled fireplace
Not in a processional archway into the salon
Never considered for a skylight frame, to be brilliantly illuminated
As snows and winds come and go
Perhaps another craftsman will approve of your delicate cut
So I stow my hopes, think of our next renovation, and don’t drag you to the curb
Andy Oram
September 9, 2025