The carpenter is intent on the pressure of his hand
on the awl, and the trick of pinpointing his strength
through the awl to the wood, which is tough.
He has no effort to spare for despoilings
nor to worry if he’ll be cut in on the dice.
His skill is vital to the scene, and the safety of the state.
Anyone can perform the indignities; it is his hard arms
and craft that hold the eyes of the convict’s women.
There is the problem of getting the holes straight
(in the middle of this shoving crowd)
and deep enough to hold the spikes
after they’ve sunk through those soft feet
and wrists waiting behind him.
The carpenter isn’t aware that one of the hands
is held in a curious beseechment over him—
but what is besought, forgiveness or blessing?—
nor if he saw would he take the time to be puzzled.
Criminals come in all sorts, as anyone knows who makes crosses,
are as mad or sane as those who decide on their killings.
Our one at least has been quiet so far,
though they say he has talked himself into this trouble—
a carpenter’s son who got notions of preaching.
Well here’s a carpenter’s son who’ll have carpenter’s sons,
God willing, and build what’s wanted, temples or tables,
mangers or crosses, and shape them decently,
working alone in that firm and profound abstraction
which blots out the bawling of rag-snatchers.
To construct with hands, knee-weight, braced thigh,
keeps the back turned from death.
But it’s too late now for the other carpenter’s boy
to return to this peace before the nails are hammered.
From Selected Poems, 1940–1966 by Earle Birney (Toronto: McClelland and Stewart, 1966), copyright © the Estate of Earle Birney.
Earle Birney (1904–1995) is regarded as one of Canada’s finest poets. He is the author of twenty-five poetry collections, including David and Other Poems (1942), Now Is Time (1945), and Near False Creek Mouth (1964). He taught English at the University of British Columbia, where he founded and directed the first Canadian creative writing program. He was also a novelist, essayist, literary critic, and radio playwright.
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