A poem for knitters...

The Praise of the Needle

To all dispersed sorts of ARTS and TRADES,

I writ the needles prayse (that never fades)

So long as children shall be got or borne,

So long as garments shall be made or worne,

So long as Hemp or flax or Sheep shall bear

their linnen woollen fleeces yeare by yeare:

So long as Silk-wormes, with exhausted spoile,

Of their own Entrailes for man's gaine shall toyle:

yea till the world be quite dissolv'd and past;

So long at least, the Needles use shall last.



JOHN TAYLOR, London 1640