Brick and terracotta
Formed from earthy clay
Work of artisans and artists
Their ingenuity to display
From such a substance – simple
Spurned by most as dirt
It becomes things of beauty
As a master’s hands convert
Brick and terracotta
And Earth-born pottery
Ancient expressions
Of utility and artistry
Padre
While this poem is meant to sing the praises of the simple forms associated with mere clay, it is also an allegory on human worth. If we can have such accomplishments with something “spurned as dirt,” how much more can we look forward to seeing in human potential – even the from those seen as other or less?
Padre's Ramblings 
I like the repetition of “brick and terracotta” …. it’s almost as if you are taking the earth and making it into something with your words. Allegorical indeed.
Thank you for posting. I enjoyed it very much!
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This is remarkable, Padre. So beautiful and indicative of the artist’s self expression. Very thought provoking especially in the essence of building something with the worth and potential to be remarkable from something of the basics of nature. That’s a very powerful meaning, as evinced in your author’s note as well. Thank you for sharing this!
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Very nicely done and I like the concept you started from and concluded with.
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Those things of beauty have unlikely origins. Nice use of rhythm and rhyme here.
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“From such a substance – simple
Spurned by most as dirt
It becomes things of beauty
As a master’s hands convert”
I saw Master’s with a capital M, the ultimate Master at the create of man.
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I love that image, and I did consider an Adam reference.
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Even when right before our eyes, potential is often overlooked.
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I like the analogy to life. The words are evocative. Excellent write.
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I love the colours and textures of brick and terracotta, so warm and earthy, and I like both ways of reading your poem – the allegory is clear. Clay may be simple, but it is made up of different elements, is so versatile and part of our being: everything is born of and returns to the earth, it is beautiful and creates beauty on its own and with help of humans. Nature knows no difference; it is only humans who put value on things.
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What a wonderful tribute to the urge to creation. (K)
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I loved this! Thank you! The idea of worthless matter actually by our vision and imagination being transformed into a thing of real worth. How actually all we see has born from us, we mold the world into something self destructive, for it bears the same wound as the artist, artisan, collective and me, you. The addiction, rivalry modern design… OH, sorry, my beautiful first impression turned dark now! Didn’t mean to! 😉
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You formed a mighty fine poem, Padre. Enjoyed it.
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I never thought about it like that! “Spurned as dirt,” but those materials become art in the hands of artisans.
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I like the rhythm of this and this stanza especially,
“From such a substance – simple
Spurned by most as dirt
It becomes things of beauty
As a master’s hands convert”
What a wonderful poem.
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