Wood Carver's Poem

[Going to be read by my mum at my Great Uncle Ken's funeral this Friday. I'm posting it here as my tribute to him and his amazing art despite a 26 year battle with illness, as I can't be there on the day. I'm not sure of the author, if you know please say so I can give them credit]

I Saw This Piece Of Wood One Day
When I Picked It Up It Seemed To Say

There’s Something Hiding Inside Of Me
Remove Some Chips And You Will See

I Looked To See What I Might Find
And Soon An Image Came To Mind

My Task Was Now To Set It Free
What’s Hidden In This Piece Of Tree

With Loving Care Each Cut Was Made
Wood Peeled Off With A Sharp Edged Blade

And As Each Chip Fell To The Floor
I Could See The Object More And More

By One Final Cut It Was Set Free
My Work Of Art For All To See

This Piece Of Wood Which Would Just Lay
And See It’s Body Soon Decay

Was Now Transformed And Given Life
With Careful Cuts Of Gouge And Knife

By Carving Something From This Tree
It Lives Again Because Of Me

- unknown author