Jug

The shale and water thrown together so-so first of all, Then a potter's hand on the wheel and his fingers shaping the jug ; out of the mud a mouth and a handle ; Slimpsy, loose and ready to fall at a touch, fire plays on it, slow fire coaxing all the water out of the shale mix. Dipped in glaze more fire plays on it till a molasses lava runs in waves, rises and retreats, a varnish of volcanoes. Take it now; out of mud now here is a mouth and handle; out of this now mothers will pour milk and maple syrup and cider, vinegar, apple juice, and sorghum. There is nothing proud about this ; only one out of many ; the potter's wheel slings them out and the fires harden them hours and hours thousands and thousands. " Be good to me, put me, down easy on the floors of the new concrete houses ; I was poured out like a concrete house and baked in fire too."