String Figures
what do you do when you want to learn something
and there is no one to teach you?
I remember from the grainy shadows of my youth
two girls passing a string back and forth
a string formed in changing patterns, cat’s cradle.
the cavernous anthropology section of the university library
row upon row, stack upon stack
I run my finger along the book bindings
not looking down I stumble
reach out for support
grab a book as I fall
“Aboriginal String Figures and How to Make Them”
That book became my teacher
I tie a length of string together
and go through page by page
“Jacob’s Ladder”
“Apache Door”
“Many Stars”
Follow the words
do opening “A”
step one
step two
drop the string off the little finger
insert the thumb
now do a Navajo Leap
So easy, but then I get to step five and I have to turn the page
I look at the book
then at my hands
the tangle of string trying to make a getaway
open my mouth
stick out my tongue
and go onto step six.
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