: Snyder links himself to his son and to past poets like Ezra Pound and Lu Ji, viewing them all as "axes" that shape the next generation of "handles". Practical Contexts
: Snyder references an ancient Chinese phrase: "When making an axe handle / the pattern is not far off" . You use an ax to shape an ax handle; thus, the tool is its own model. ax handle
: In a historical and social context, several academic papers examine " Ax Handle Saturday ," a pivotal 1960 civil rights event in Jacksonville, Florida. How to Rehandle an Old Axe : Snyder links himself to his son and
The poem describes a shared moment where Snyder teaches his son, Kai, how to shape a new hatchet handle using an existing ax as a guide. The "useful" nature of this "paper" (or poem/text) lies in its meditation on: : In a historical and social context, several
