Carving Wood

raw
a wooden plank
a thin blade I saw
in the santero's hand
mahogany and cedar
ceiba and capá
scent distilled
with every trace
of the knife that trailed
in bare wood a face
a tunic, a crown
gently carving
up and down
each cut a stroke
to time and history
art that invokes culture
religion and faith
precious sacred sculpture
wooden Saint

Day 27

In the media above the Three Wise Men carved in ceiba tree wood and mahogany. 'La talla de Santos' (carving saints) is a tradition specially for Christmas holidays.

One day I was at my kids art class and there was a 'santero' (saints carver) working on his three wise men. I was so impressed by the way he quickly sculpted his saints. The aroma of wood filled the room making it magical.

Capá is a tree native to Central America as well as Ceiba tree which are protected by law.