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The Carver Searches



Carver Ned,
Assigned his task,
Set block of wood
Upon the cask;

Laid tools out neat
In ordered rows-
Prepared to strike
Well ordered blows,

Chisel and mallet
Wielded with care.

And soon produced-
A lock of hair.

With practiced thrusts
And gentle blows,
Ned then shaped
The noble nose.

Figure and form
Quickly followed;
But soon discovered-
Large voids and hollows.

A hollow here,
A void up there-
Heartwood Of mush
And core of air.

Carver Ned
Then chiseled more,
His task requiring
Solid core-

But carved more carefully
Than before;
That block, in slivers,
Fell to the floor,

And upon the cask,
And slivered and torn-
Reposed a remnant:

Its gossamer mask
E'er haggard and worn-
A hollow shell;
Dishonored, forlorn.

And Ned the carver
Gave up his task
Removed the remnant
From the cask-

Rolled up his tools
In pouches neat,
And from his quest
Made sad retreat.

For the thing he'd sought,
Was imaginary:
The heart and soul,
And substance of-
Senator; John F. Kerry