Pearl Knotting
“The Latin word “bede” means to pray. And as we stitch our beads one at a time, I hope we can find solace in this simple and loving repetition that somehow adds goodness to the cosmic soup.” Beadwork Magazine
Put on your favorite music,
Pachelbel or Vivaldi recommended.
Prepare your space,
placing cloth on table that will hold all your
vials of pearls, beads and tools.
Pierce the barely visible hole
of a pale pearl with fine wire
trailing gray silk thread,
snuggly place a precise knot
with sharply pointed tweezers,
close behind the pearl.
Thread a faceted crystal,
a knot,
a smaller pink pearl,
a knot.
back to the milky pearl.
repeat the mantra again.
At the center
place a large tear drop pearl,
return to pattern.
At the end join
female and male parts of clasp.
Gems of water world,
clear crystals of earth
knotted together into
a rosary,
no matter the order of the beads,
a universe of rose petal prayers.
Eva McGinnis has written three books of poetry Strands of Luminescence: Poetry of the Spirit’s Quest; Wings to my Breath and At the Edge of the Earth and has had her work published in a number of literary books and magazines, including Tall and True Tales of the Olympic Peninsula, In the Words of Olympic Peninsula Authors Vol 2 in 2018, Vol 3 in 2019 and Prevail in 2020; Tidepools 2016, 2017, 2020, 2021, 2023; Rainshadow Poetry Anthology 2016; Wild Willow Women’s Anthology Project; Seattle Poems by Seattle Poets Anthology; Woman as Hero Anthology; A Mother’s Touch book; Spindrift ’93,’94 &’95. Her poems and photographs were displayed at the PA Public Library in 2018 & 2019 and in Fluidity (online) Art Show in 2020. She has had Ekphrastic poetry displayed alongside artwork (or read from) at the Port Angeles Fine Arts Center, Blue Whole Gallery, Northwind Gallery and Studio Bob’s. Her poetry has been part of the FAC’s Poetry in the Park for three years. She facilitates a writing group in her neighborhood in Port Angeles. Eva holds degrees from Michigan State (in English) and Iowa State (in Adult Education) and a certificate in Poetry from University of Washington.
“The true capacity of poetry comes in finding strength and grace in everything life presents us.”
Amethyst Review 