Woodturning oak

for Hudson and Piper Sutton

My children mold shapes onto

the spalted root burl of my memory

turning it on an axis

knurling it with roughing gouge

facing it with spindle gouge

skewing glassy cuts to form a seamless curve from top to bottom

cutting it free from time’s taper with parting tool.

It hurts as they hollow it

chisel it with bowl gouge into a spherical cap.

They scrape it

spray it with water to raise the grain

sand it, apply tung oil with rag so it seals and shines.

Its grain encircles their small knots and their dormant buds.

This evening, I lift the live edged oak bowl

from atop the entryway sideboard credenza

press it to my ear and listen

to the quiet roar of my children

laughing swinging

hammocking in summer.

published by the Eunoia Review on  July 31, 2023.