The Fabric of Gee's Bend: Coveralls

For more on the quilts of Gee's Bend, go to http://www.quiltsofgeesbend.com/

I miss you baby.

Seems like I cain’t get warm no more

and winter’s a comin on soon.

I didn’t think I’d make it this far

with you gone.

I wish I could still feel

the heat of the July day

you passed.

I try.

But I cain’t no more

You’re both gone.

A’times I miss you so much

 I feel like I’m gonna break

But then I look up

And still see that old dusty table

In front of me.

How many years we had that table?

Corn bread don’t taste the same off it.

Not so sweet in my mouth now.

I picked up your coveralls the other day.

I keep ‘em in that old trunk mama gave me.

They still smell like you,

your sweet sweat and tabacca

And the gin you’d sneak when you thought I wasn’t lookin’.

I needed a new blanket

but there just wasn’t enough for it.

So I took all your coveralls

And stitched ‘em--

I hope you don mind"

Into a blanket--

And covered myself in you,

So I can smell you and dream of you

Through the long winter.

copyright/all rights reserved Audrey Howitt 2011

Author's Note

let me know if the dialect sounds ok--or should I stay with my voice

Reviews

[Ruth]

This holds real charm! I enjoyed it immensely love :)
You really found a way to deliver such a voice in elegant tones...this has a beautiful atmosphere to it, I loved it xoxo

What a heartfelt write here. It touched me deeply, within the last words mostly, strong ending. I smell always too on every object, (sensitive person) and this can bring back memories, so vividly. As if they never left us... Great work Audrey.

[SkinlessFrank]

The sense of smell always brings back memories. This is a beautiful sentiment. I've wanted to do the same with my children's clothes. That sweetness lost.

Dialect always seems like a puzzle to me. I grew up in the South, but it's been too long since then and I've lost my ear for it. Now I can do Quebec french dialect better than southern, which tells me that one has to be surrounded everyday by it in order to translate it into writing. Everytime I read Flannery O'Connor's mastery of southern dialect, it blows me away.

[Neva Flores Smith - Cha..]

Audrey, this is fabulous. I had to do some research to find out about these......
http://www.quiltsofgeesbend.com/.
I love the dialect you used.....wonderful piece!

[emmajoy]

Being a Brit, not sure about your dialect but for me it certainly worked, adding a specific touch of place and time. There's a gentle, sincere sense of sadness, of nostalgia here - and beautifully put.

' So I took all your coveralls ~ And stitched ‘em-- ~ I hope you don mind" ~ Into a blanket-- ~ And covered myself in you, ~ So I can smell you and dream of you ~ Through the long winter. '