Ravi's Bowl: A Story, a Poem and a Play

The Wobbly Bowl (a story)

1Ravi had waited all summer for the pottery class at the community center. On the first day, Ms. Adeyemi showed the class how to press a lump of wet clay onto the spinning wheel. Her hands moved calmly, and in a minute a smooth bowl rose up between her fingers.

2Ravi's turn did not go so well. He pushed the pedal hard, and the wheel spun faster and faster. The clay wobbled, leaned to one side and then flopped over like a tired flower. Ravi felt his face grow hot. Gray splashes of clay dotted his shirt and arms.

3"Clay doesn't like to be rushed," Ms. Adeyemi said with a smile. "Slow the wheel down while you shape it, and keep your elbows close to your body. Let your hands stay steady while the clay does the turning."

4Ravi took a deep breath and tried again. This time he spun the wheel slowly and held his hands still. The lump began to rise, a little crooked at first, then rounder. When he finally lifted his foot from the pedal, a small bowl sat on the wheel. One side was slightly lopsided, but it was his.

5"It will be just right for holding my marbles," Ravi said, grinning.

The Potter's Wheel (a poem)

1The wheel begins its gentle spin,
it hums a sleepy tune,
and in the center sits the clay,
as heavy as a moon.

2My fingers press, my thumbs dig in,
I hold my elbows tight;
the lump climbs up between my hands
and slowly grows in height.

3I lift my foot, the humming stops,
the wheel has gone to sleep,
and there, still damp, a little bowl:
a treasure I will keep.

The Dancing Bowl (a play)

Characters: MS. ADEYEMI, the pottery teacher; RAVI; JUNE, a student in the class

Setting: The pottery room, two weeks later. A shelf holds rows of bowls that have been baked hard in a very hot oven called a kiln.

MS. ADEYEMI: (holding up a small bowl) Whose bowl is this? It came out of the kiln this morning.

RAVI: (stepping forward slowly) It's mine. I know it leans a little.

JUNE: (leaning closer) I like the way it leans. It looks like it's dancing!

RAVI: (smiling) Dancing? I never thought of that.

MS. ADEYEMI: Every bowl made by hand is a little different. That is what makes each one special.

RAVI: (holding the bowl carefully in both hands) Then next week, I'll make it a dancing partner!