Poem: Turning the Heel

Turning the Heel by Heather Jerrie

Needles poised, she leans close to read yet again, frowning.
She looks again at her knitting, then at the instructions.
Laboriously she knits, stops, reads, knits, step by step.

Knit, but don't go to the end of the row. Turn.
(Huh? That can't be right. I still have stitches left!)
Just turn.
(Maybe the directions are wrong!)
Turn.
(Are you sure?)
Trust me.

OK, she sighs, and she turns the knitting around.

Now knit some more, and then turn.
(WHAT? I still have stitches left to go!)
Turn. Trust me, it will work out. Really!
(Well, OK...)
She turns again.

Row by row, she follows. Simply following directions, fumbling, trusting.
Before her eyes the stitches turn, change direction,
and form a new shape: a heel.
Like magic.

She holds the knitting up to the light and marvels.

There are times when we learn to be led,
to listen to the voice of someone who knows the way.
We take a hand and follow, stumbling, often unwilling,
unsure of the way.
and when we arrive, are told,
See?
Aren't you glad you listened?