NEWS
Chantilly for the Bored
It is lovely to sit back and review some of the things we get sent from visitors. This is the work of Raina Kingsley who visited earlier this year with a group of ladies from the Airing Cupboard. She took inspiration from David Elliot’s exhibition – Snark: A Victorian Odyssey.
Chantilly for the Bored
When I’m at home
I work all day
construct my world
underwater
just sitting and
waiting on a ship
does not fit me
as it oughta
I can not sleep or
even rest I don’t
know what to do
and so I
gnaw a bit of rigging
I chew a bit of deck
below I munch a ladder and
in crew quarters
I’m checked
Hey, stop that
naughty creature!
the people frown and
huddle all hush hush and
tsk tsk at me their words
are all a muddle
in front of me they place
a pillow but it’s not to
rest my head on
they know that
I like patterns but this is
new and unfamiliar
next come the little bobbins and
the shiny thread to weave
make lace and leave our
ship alone if only you
would please
I toss those bobbins back
and forth making lace
before you know it and
I’m happy in my crafting
no more chewing on the bo at
The people sigh relief
and the ship remains intact
while I beaver beaver beaver
through the journey
out the back
Raina Kingsley
2 February 2019