The Quilt

Later Version

On cold nights with my candle
burning brightly I seamed
multi-colored fabrics,
wool and flax worked by my hands,
linen and silk and cotton prints
bought by my thrift and economy.

Pink and yellow scraps left from
girls frocks and pinafores,
petticoats rustling as they skip
through house and home,
laces and ribbons and silk
line their tiny sewing baskets
as they, too, learn to stitch
doll clothes of their very own.
The girls are a blessing, laughing
brown eyes reading lessons.

Scarlet and purple bits and pieces
left from days of sewing
work dresses and sun bonnets,
those pieces worn as I labored long
about the house and garden,
clothing that protected
my arms and neck from weary hours
working in the summer sun.

Brown and gray from remnants
of the thick jackets and trousers
of solemn and strong brown-eyed boys,
calicoes from shirts that were ripped
breaking the young stud colt,
sturdy clothing from the rough and
tumble boys who work hard at play,
linings from woolen caps and mits
to keep the little ones warm.

And from you, the wool over-shirts
and night shirts and sack coats,
sturdy clothes for a man of virtue.
Our lives twined through the
thread of my needles as I clothed
our family through every season.
Until through quiet industry,
there were enough fabric squares
to cover the big feather bed.

Be not afraid of the snow.
After all the tiny hand-stitches
have finally been completed,
the warm wool-lined coverlet
strengthened with my diligence,
pieced from our every day lives,
will bring comfort to your soul.

Beauty is vain, and time is fleeting.
When I can no longer wrap
you in my arms.
You will still have the work of
my heart to keep you warm.

Author's Note

the note about the seasons caused a change. no matter how old my words are they still find themselves subject to scrutiny.

Reviews

[Girl Friday (Sarah W.)]

This was quite beautiful, both on the surface and metaphorically. When I was a child, my grandmother would stitch quilts--she used fabrics from clothing as well. When her mother passed away, she stitched a quilt for each of us from pieces of her dresses; it was quite special. I could see this unfolding on the page as I read.

Metaphorically, I love the way that you brought in each "player" and showed how despite life's changing seasons, circumstances, etc., if we stitch together the fabrics of those who we love, we will be held together forever. This is creation. Well done.

[eglantine]

laura ingles wilder... argh, i don't remember

[Emily B]

I loved Laura Ingalls Wilder, I wish my kids would enjoy those books the way I did

[eglantine]

the ending is very tender. Have you read or watched any of the Laura Wild Engler stuff? (sp?) Little House in the Woods? reminded me a lot of that

[Southern Cross]

My Mom was a quilter and always making the most beautiful spreads all hand stitched and made from those small scraps coming from everywhere and nowhere all at the same time. She has passed on but I still find comfort under cover of her quilts on those cool wintry nights. Shame this has become a dying art form and China has taken over the manufacturing ..it's just not the same and never crafted with the love that accompanied hand made gifts

[h d e rushin]

this is your finest hour...hder.

As a little boy I remember sitting at my great-grandmothers knee as she
(without a sewing machine) made quilts from scraps of old clothes and
and a fist full of unwoven coton. I still own one of those quilts and look
at it often just to see the honesty; the true adherence to the facts of
warmth.

"be not afraid of the snow,
after all the tiny hand stitches
have finally been completed
the warm wool-line coverlet
strenghtened with my deligence".

How wonderful are those lines,
fastened to my memory.....good work, dana.

[Renée]

strong, loving & beautiful..like each stitch of love... I met my grandma once..but she sent me a hand made quilt..each stitch her hand, every piece of fabric with a story..I use it every time I am sick.. you are so right those gifts of love live on long after the
maker is gone...

[Wicahpi]

Congratulations on your "Poetry of Love" award.
This was just a very warm n fuzzy piece of family, love
and honor. Well done

[Emily B]

just got back from fabric shopping, blues and yellows and pinks :)

more dresses and shirts and pinafores to be stitched

[Collect-Eye]

I just printed this out for Jack...I nearly cried as I finished reading this just now..Full of soul and reality, these patterns.

[Wicahpi]

This is so wonderful!!
I could feel the love woven through every single
thread!! Thank you for entering my "Poetry of Love" contest!
Good Luck :)

[1809 Black Plague Decem..]

Emily, I find the theme profound. It necters the embodiment of cloth, passing time; funny, how many would feel that these feelings and time of the cloth, sensuality, nurture, youth, and even age, are still here. It made me want to be there, picturesteque I must say, :) ---mishel