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Glass Letter Cutting

This is the cutting out of glass letters, and includes the selection of the glass, and cutting, bevelling, and polishing. This is the most skilled branch for men and the best paid. The forms of letters are drawn on a sheet of paper; the apprentice has squares of glass which he places over the drawn letters and traces the shapes on to the glass. The form of the letters having been traced on to the surface of the glass, the squares are sent into another department to be gilded by girls; this done, they are returned to be cut into shape by a skilled workman. This part of the work requires great skill and care. The letters when shaped are passed on to men to be smoothed, rouged if necessary, bevelled, and polished. The smoothers, bevellers, and polishers, all sit at tubs containing water, and do their work by dipping the part on which they are working into water and holding it against a revolving wheel.

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Claiming a crazed surface as a means of protection

Setting up a smokescreen

There were no fit words the

Letters bouncing back unfit for use

When addressed I respond well whatever it is

I want to write about loss as clearly as I can

As if through the grammar of glass

I want to write about

Getting things out of all proportion

The distance between digits intimate

Beyond the body

There are no fit words only the

Flabby excess of too much emotion

Fighting against the grammar

Where nobody asks why

Resisting the desire to communicate

Eager to please