Cords - Edit 2

[dukealien]

Cords

Women spun their distaff tufts
to spindle-whorls cast down
whipped ‘round with song from tuft to thread
and thread to string to cord:
a woman’s life one skein
from when she learned to spin until
the shroud her daughters wove her.

Men spun plaited slings of cord
stones tucked in simple pockets
from which each whipping cast
released a singing bullet shot
for rabbit, wolf or foeman
dead or downed by stinging stone
each shot a lifeline severed.

Edit 1;

Women spun their distaff tufts
to spindle-whorls cast down
whipped ‘round with song from tuft to thread
and thread to string to cord:
a woman’s life one skein
from when she learned to spin until
the shroud her daughters wove her.

Men spun plaited slings of cord
stones trapped in bulging pockets
from which each whipping cast
released a singing bullet shot
for rabbit, wolf or foeman
dead or downed by stinging stone
each whirling shot an ending.

original version;

Women spun their distaff tufts
to spindle-whorls cast down
whipped ‘round with song from tuft to thread
and thread to string to cord
a woman’s life one skein
from when she learned to spin until
the shroud her daughters wove her.

Men spun plaited slings of cord
stones trapped in bulging pockets
from which each whipping cast
released a whistling bullet shot
for wolf or food or foeman
dead or downed by stinging sling
each whirling shot an ending.

Thinking of the Balearic Islands in ancient times here
though the rabbits are not specifically mentioned (oops, they are in Edit2)

First post-NAPM poem!