Poetry on a Walking Stick - Photos

Last blog post showed my method of transferring the words onto the walking stick.  I burn a line on, then I transfer the next line.  It is not a quick process.  I spend about an hour and a half a day working on the project, then I need to work on something else so that my hands don't get over tired.  I don't want to mess this up.  There are times that I would like to work longer on it, but sometimes a shorter work session is more productive in the long run. 

I'd like to take a moment to emphasize the importance of hand stretching and wrist exercises.  From past experience in working with wood burning on walking sticks I have found that I start to develop carpal tunnel problems from holding my wrist in certain positions for long periods.  Doing some wrist exercises and stretching my fingers both before and after a wood burning session helps to stave off the problem. 

Anyway, I was able to have a few good mornings getting some of the story on the stick this week.  There is only one line left to burn onto the walking stick.  I expect to get that burned on tomorrow unless we have rain.  Then I will start on the decorative elements of the stick.  So far, readers have seen the first two lines, of the poetic creation story for the Shaman Staff.  I'll share the third line now.  (New readers, please check back over the previous blog posts in order to understand the full story on this walking stick.)

We began as the dust of ancient stars.
Crossed time and space.
We took form in this place.

Check Wednesday's post for more on the creation story.   I should have the rest of it on the stick by then.

Photographing a walking stick is a challenge.  If you get back far enough to show the whole stick, you lose the detail.  Move in for detail, and you can't get the full stick in the picture.  The photos are not what I would like them to be, but it gives you an idea of the progress on the walking stick.