Carpet weavers Morocco by Carol Rumens:
Carpet-Weavers, Morocco – Carol Rumens
The children are at the loom of another world.
Their braids are oiled and black, their dresses bright.
Their assorted heights would make a melodious chime.
They watch their flickering knots like television.
As the garden of Islam grows, the bench will be raised.
Then they will lace the dark-rose veins of the tree-tops.
The carpet will travel in the merchant’s truck.
It will be spread by the servants of the mosque.
Deep and soft, it will give when heaped with prayer.
The children are hard at work in the school of days.
From their fingers the colours of all-that-will-be fly
and freeze into the frame of all-that-was.
Overview
The poem explores the art of carpet weaving, particularly in Morocco, and the role of children in creating these intricate pieces.
It highlights both the tangible and spiritual aspects of weaving, symbolizing the continuity of tradition, culture, and religion.
Through the weaving process, the poem connects the children’s labor to broader ideas of time, history, and divine presence.
There’s a strong contrast between the childlike simplicity and the profound significance of the weaving process.
Key Quotes:
“The children are at the loom of another world.”
“The carpet will travel in the merchant’s truck.”
“From their fingers the colours of all-that-will-be fly”
Underlying Meanings
Art and spirituality: The carpet represents a fusion of craftsmanship and religious devotion. The act of weaving mirrors spiritual practices, especially in Islamic culture, where the carpet is used for prayer.
Generational legacy: The children are continuing an age-old tradition, suggesting the perpetuation of culture, memory, and identity.
Symbolism of the loom: The loom represents the passage of time, and through their work, the children are weaving both the past and future together.
Innocence and labor: While the children’s work is playful (“melodious chime”), it is also deeply meaningful and labor-intensive, illustrating the juxtaposition of innocence with serious adult responsibilities.
Key Quotes:
“Then they will lace the dark-rose veins of the tree-tops.”
“It will be spread by the servants of the mosque.”
“The children are hard at work in the school of days.”
Poetic Techniques
Imagery: Vivid visual images (e.g., “braids are oiled and black”, “dark-rose veins of the tree-tops”) that create a rich sensory experience for the reader.
Metaphor: The loom becomes a symbol for both the physical process of weaving and the spiritual and cultural act of shaping history.
Alliteration: The repetition of “braids are oiled and black” and “melodious chime” enhances the rhythm and musicality of the poem.
Symbolism: The carpet symbolizes both artistic creation and spiritual devotion, with the process of weaving representing a blending of the sacred and everyday life.
Key Quotes:
“The children are at the loom of another world.”
“Their assorted heights would make a melodious chime.”
“Deep and soft, it will give when heaped with prayer.”
Literary Techniques
Juxtaposition: The poem contrasts the innocence of children with the weight of their labor and the spiritual significance of their craft.
Personification: The loom and the carpet are given life-like qualities, as if the fabric itself has a purpose and journey (“The carpet will travel”).
Ambiguity: The line “From their fingers the colours of all-that-will-be fly” introduces an element of prophecy or fate, suggesting the children are creating not just a carpet but a vision of the future.
Key Quotes:
“They watch their flickering knots like television.”
“The garden of Islam grows, the bench will be raised.”
“The carpet will travel in the merchant’s truck.”
Structure
Free verse: The poem doesn’t follow a strict rhyme or meter, allowing for a fluid, natural rhythm that mirrors the process of weaving.
Enjambment: Many lines spill over into the next without punctuation, suggesting the continuous, uninterrupted nature of both the weaving and the passage of time.
Stanza arrangement: The structure is divided into four stanzas, each contributing to the overarching theme of the children’s work and the spiritual significance of their labor.
Cyclic imagery: The poem moves between past, present, and future, highlighting the cyclical nature of life, tradition, and culture.
Key Quotes:
“The children are at the loom of another world.”
“Then they will lace the dark-rose veins of the tree-tops.”
“And freeze into the frame of all-that-was.”