Sunday, May 1, 2011

Shibori (Poem)


Sahara Desert Image by Rosa Frei
© Rosa Frei


Shibori

Suppled silk
in folds enrobe; pleat
as a web,
spider-bind;
in loops, knots, or stitches shape
resist-dye design.

________________________

Shibori is a Japanese term for techniques that may use binding, stitching, folding, twisting, compressing, or other methods to dye cloth with various patterns. A number of the methods, including the Kumo shibori, which creates a type of spider-like design, are explained here. Textile artist Carter Smith is one of the greatest of Shibori designers. 


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I offer this poem, in Shadorma form, for One Shoot Sunday at One Stop Poetry, which today features an interview with photographer Rosa Frei and several images of her work as inspiration for a Picture Prompt Challenge. Go here to read the interview and then scroll down for instructions on how to contribute an original poem or flash fiction. 

Images by Rosa Frei also may be viewed at Photo Emotions.

Rosa Frei on FaceBook and Twitter

14 comments:

dustus said...

An artful post, Maureen. You had me surfing the web admiring Kimonos. After my "net-trek" I see how your words describe the sand as Shibori fittingly.

S. Etole said...

beautiful, Maureen ... reminds me of folds of very soft corduroy ...

Beachanny said...

To read your work is to be educated. With extreme care and subtlety you express this so beautifully. I think we share a love of how Shadorma creates a sturdy form for poems to dress. Lovely.

John (@bookdreamer) said...

subtle combination

Glynn said...

Wonderful combination of the natural of the photo and the created of the words.

Valerie Kamikubo said...

Someone takes a photo; you see shibori and write a descriptive poem. I love that you found shibori in this Maureen... what a collaborative connection!

libithina said...

What a beautiful connection ~ with image and shibori ~
loved the construction Maureen
and lovely to read of the techniques involved ~ Brilliant ~ Lib ~ @Libithina

signed...bkm said...

the "suppled silk... resist dye-design" ...a delicate weaving of words...thank you for the education on shibori...always look forward to learning from your posts...bkm

katdish said...

How cool to combine the image of the desert with Shibori. Loved this.

Anonymous said...

simply beautiful...how the sand does appear fabric, the binding, and so perfect for the form. I'm now Ai Weiwei obsessed, it seems I've a bit of new research now for shibori, many thanks ~

Laura said...

Maureen, your words so perfectly name the photo. You always amaze me with the knowledge you impart--so artfully! Like Dustus, I'm going off to surf and find out more.

hedgewitch said...

A very effective parallel, the sand, the craft, and the 'folding" of words, not without resistance and space, into a shadorma. Some beautiful examples of the craft at your link, also. Thanks for including it.

Henry Clemmons said...

Yes, you had me Googling half your poem. Great job!

Steve Isaak said...

Love this, one of the more original takes on this picture prompt.