Monday, March 03, 2008

Sargasso Sea Sock I is Finished


I've finished sock one and almost half of the second sock. It makes me think of Neruda's poem:

"Ode to My Socks" by Pablo Neruda (translated by Robert Bly)

Mara Mori brought me
a pair of socks
which she knitted herself
with her sheepherder's hands,
two socks as soft as rabbits.
I slipped my feet into them
as if they were two cases
knitted with threads of twilight and goatskin,
Violent socks,
my feet were two fish made of wool,
two long sharks
sea blue, shot through
by one golden thread,
two immense blackbirds,
two cannons,
my feet were honored in this way
by these heavenly socks.
They were so handsome for the first time
my feet seemed to me unacceptable
like two decrepit firemen,
firemen unworthy of that woven fire,
of those glowing socks.

Nevertheless, I resisted the sharp temptation
to save them somewhere as schoolboys
keep fireflies,
as learned men collect
sacred texts,
I resisted the mad impulse to put them
in a golden cage and each day give them
birdseed and pieces of pink melon.
Like explorers in the jungle
who hand over the very rare green deer
to the spit and eat it with remorse,
I stretched out my feet and pulled on
the magnificent socks and then my shoes.

The moral of my ode is this:
beauty is twice beauty
and what is good is doubly good
when it is a matter of two socks
made of wool in winter.

11 comments:

Kristen said...

Such gorgeous saturated color in your socks.
Would that all our knitted gifts were received in the spirit of Pablo Neruda.

Now and Then said...

Cindy - I just love that poem! And your socks are truly worthy of it.
Sherill

Cindy/Snid said...

What a wonderful poem! I have never heard it before!!!
Might have to print that one out...
The socks are lovely too ;)

cyndy said...

Beautiful sock! I just love how the pooling happened-perfect!

Wonderful poem, thank you so much for posting it. It has enriched my morning!

They go quite well together, the poem and the sock! ;-)

Karen said...

Beautiful sock! I love the ruffle on the cuff!

Anonymous said...

These are just lovely, especially the little ruffle at the top. A nice lighthearted touch. :-)

Pablo Neruda knew a good thing when he saw it. If only all handknits were so graciously received!...

Jenny Girl said...

You sock is beautiful! I love the color and the way it changes. Ohh so pretty.
I also wanted to mention your Pi shawl. My goodness another wonderful piece.

Laurie said...

So fast, so pretty! The poem is US.

Unknown said...

Now these I like! Great pattern and colour.

judy said...

Wonderful poem! I hadn't read it before.
The Sargasso color really goes well with the pattern you've knitted. Looks like Sargasso floats in the turquoise sea. Good job!

Kim said...

You have done some beautiful knitting lately! This sock is just beautiful, made up in my favorite colors!