... as if everything that exists,
aromas, light, metals,
were little boats
that sail
toward those isles of yours that wait for me.
My first idea, years ago, had been to make lots of small clay open canoe forms with inclusions fired into their cavities to represent the aromas, light and metals, and arrange them as if travelling in a river to flow around a space. Later, however, after my Dad passed I inherited his architectural plans.
I had begun to feel paper might be a better choice; the fact Neruda uses the word 'little' to describe them indicates a vulnerability, delicacy, or fragility. Then, some time ago I unconsciously started 'doodling' paper shapes into tiny, long boats. I hadn't even noticed what I was doing at the time, but after one had hung around in my work room for a couple of years I realised I was still thinking about Neruda's boats.