CARDING THE WOOL
I sit with my mother
under the juniper tree.
I watch her card wool
with her towcards.
My mother's towcards
are flat pieces of wood
with strong handles
and with wire teeth.
My mother buys her towcards
from the trader
at the trading post.
With her towcards
she pulls the wool thin.
She stretches it in white sheets
like snow mist in winter.
She bunches it in soft rolls
like white clouds in summer.
Under my mother's towcards
the gray wool turns white.
The matted wool turns fluffy
and soft,
and light as baby eagle down.
I like to sit with my mother
under the juniper tree.
I like to watch her card the wool
with her towcards.
