Is That Knot Good?

A comic poem about what it's like to start whittling and carving only to discover flaws. Then you have to decide if it's a deal breaker or do you rationalize like an insane person.

This is nothing against insane persons, some of my favorite people… Well, you know…

Is That Knot Good? 

I have whittled on this wood
for some time now.
It has developed cracks
I had not seen before-
very unfortunate.
Are cracks allowed or not?
Are they fault lines
or just skin deep?
And that little knot,
how did I miss that?
It was always there, clearly,
but I was preoccupied
by this delicious curve
on the obverse side.
Each time I sand it
I am distracted.
Oh, what a line,
so perfectly wrought.

But those infernal cracks
will be the death of me.
What will people say?
“He chose poorly.”
“Was he that lazy?”
“Lovely little curve there.”
“Is that little knot supposed
to be part of an eye?”

I cannot fathom
why I chose this
piece of wood.
Is that knot good?
Will cracks subside?
Perhaps I’ll set it aside.