Bear 248

Meet Emily, knitted in honor of an Unimportant Woman in Victoria, Canada

An Unimportant Woman - Emily, Victoria, Canada

She walks along the waterfront, a temporary shelter

For Emily and her group of aimless artisans,

The girl stands strong in body and in soul,

But fate is not in favor of acceptance.

Emily was once a man,

Now she roams the busy streets around Victoria's harbor,

singing songs of love and everlasting peace,

Resisting stabs and punches with determined hope.

"It gets better" is her daily slogan.

As teatime draws the crowds away

She pulls needles from her backpack, sits quietly and smiles.

"They wage wars and I knit teddy bears."

Bear 247

Meet Rahil, knitted in honor of an Unimportant Woman in Marrakesh, Morocco

An Unimportant Woman - Rahil, Marrakesh, Morocco

She moves her veil to kiss the boy,

Blessing him with motherly devotion.

The medina's narrow alleyways

Echo with a call to prayer.

Ensha'llah - all will be well with father.

Rahil must stay and sell their wares

Enshrined in white from head to toe

She offers rings and bracelets, barters with admirers.

They do not know about the old man's bravery;

He rescued strangers from the rubble of Argana

When terrorists destroyed the famous Marrakesh Café.

The boy is sleeping now; midday heat has slowed the tourists' greed for souvenirs.

Rahil picks up silken yarn and bamboo needles.

"They wage wars and I knit teddy bears."

Bear 246

Meet Eleesh, knitted in honor of an Unimportant Woman in Nine Mile, Jamaica

An Unimportant Woman - Eleesh, Nine Mile, Jamaica

Eleesh stands by the wayside,

Waiting, waiting, waiting,

Waiting for a bus to Nine Mile.

Insufficient funds, gang wars, sleepy drivers, robberies,

Her ride depends on luck, good will, and promises.

Mother waits for her arrival,

A man had mutilated her

When she was young and bold and desperate,

And sold herself for daily bread and minor favors.

Eleesh can't remember singing songs

Or dancing in the moonlight;

She must bathe her mother, feed her sisters, pay the bills.

But when raindrops pelt the metal roof

Eleesh becomes an artist with her needles.

She cables, purls, makes toys from snips and snatches,

Ignores the outside world's discord.

"They wage wars and I knit teddy bears."