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Open Poetry #30
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The Quilt
| Open Poetry #30 |
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The Quilt |
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Ratleader
since 2003-01-23
Posts 7026Visiting Earth on a Guest Pass 
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The Quilt She made herself a quilt and she's still there; you can see her looking out of it after fifty years. I remember how her old eyes would shine with pleasure as she threaded a needle; it gave her joy at eighty-four to have hands that steady, eyes that sharp, how they sparkled under the brim of her home-made sun bonnet. And she made herself a quilt. I think she knew she wouldn't finish, but she started anyway, did the best part, the part that would be herself, sewed herself into the hand stitching, turning it into the sunlight squared for her by the casement window every afternoon, ‘til the sun set out over Kansas. She had bits of cloth so old they came from Oklahoma when she had to move, things she'd worn or that her children wore sometimes in succession, they grew so fast, left her so soon on the homestead, dad the youngest, last, and now she lived with us. And yet she lived there still, took that cloth and sewed a simple pattern, girls in bonnets, like a memory of herself in younger prettier times that she repeated like a little story varying the clothes, until the sewing was done Later by years, we hired someone for the finish work, To sew a new backing and bind the new onto the old, finish her for us because we could not. And still she looks out of that cloth, still she remembers, and so do we. [This message has been edited by Ratleader (11-26-2003 10:23 AM).] |
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| © Copyright 2003 Ed Ratledge - All Rights Reserved | |||
Greeneyes 
since 2000-09-09
Posts 9903In Your Poetic Mind |
This is so tenderly written....What a beautiful piece....  hugssss Lauren~ I had a dream last night |
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Ratleader
since 2003-01-23
Posts 7026Visiting Earth on a Guest Pass |
She died when I was eight....and I didn't cry. Not then, and not since. Until this morning. ~~(¸¸¸¸ºº> ~~(¸¸¸¸ºº> ~~(¸¸ ¸¸ºº> ~~~(¸¸ER¸¸ºº> |
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garysgirl
since 2002-09-29
Posts 19237Florida, USA |
Ed, this is so beautiful, with so much love written within. You have put part of you in here, my friend. I know that you cherish the quilt. It sounds beautiful.  Hugs  Ethel |
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LeeJ Member Patricius
since 2003-06-19
Posts 13296 |
Oh, this was so bittersweet...there are no thoughts that can replace memories of a fine woman/lady...and this one must have been something. God bless you, warm wishes and hugs sent your way....a beautifully written tribute.... |
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Sadelite Member Elite
since 2003-10-11
Posts 2519 |
Ratleader, You've warmed us with her quilt. I, too, remember my grandma tearing apart old dresses, cutting the buttons and zippers off so they could be recycled again. With the remaining scraps, long but not quiltable size, she'd make them into ragballs for us kids to use in play (Now people sell those for decoration). I enjoyed this very much. Sadelite [This message has been edited by Sadelite (11-26-2003 10:39 AM).] |
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suthern
since 1999-07-29
Posts 20723Louisiana |
I have a quilt my mother made... and I see not just pieces of cloth sewn together, but memories. This is incredibly beautiful, my friend... reading your tender words, my tears join yours. |
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Marge Tindal
since 1999-11-06
Posts 42384Florida's Foreverly Shores |
Ed~ This is such a tender fabric of your heart~ I so understand the tears~ *Huglets* ~*Marge*~ ~*When the heart grieves over what it has lost, |
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GG Member Elite
since 2002-12-03
Posts 3532Lost in thought |
the last quilt my grandma started she knew she would never finish... It was of all the blocks and all the pieces she had made and saved over the years. I helped her, but a friend finally finished it... and it is mine now... yes, I know this one... I feel it. Always, Alyssa He was a man of sorrows ...I am a girl of tears. (Blink, Breathe, Stand, Fight) [This message has been edited by GG (11-26-2003 07:56 PM).] |
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Sunshine
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-25
Posts 63354Listening to every heart |
Having a mother-in-law that has reached the age of 95 goes to show me that "all things are possible"... having a grandmother that will soon be 93.... shows me "all things are possible"... Feeling more comfortable in the midwest than I ever did in my own home state, CA, makes this a very special poem to me, Sir.... and I thank you for sharing it with all of us. |
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ecrivan Member Elite
since 2001-12-10
Posts 3923my own state |
There are reasons to keep busy at all ages...and we should understand that from the poem and comments. Much enjoyed the tender thoughts, Ed.
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jaicie114 Senior Member
since 2003-09-27
Posts 750On the edge of forever |
Thank you, Ed... I happen to be a quilter as well and it touches my heart to know that you understand just how much of her really is in the quilt. Whether it's poetry or quilting (or any other creative art), the finished product says more about its creator than anyone can learn by other means. You are truly blessed. Love and Light...jc This I know as Truth...we are all Beings of Light. |
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Snow
since 2000-10-16
Posts 1170desert flower looking for rain |
ohhh, all i can say is i simply loved this. snow "...why does my skeleton pursue me |
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steavenr Member Elite
since 2003-11-17
Posts 4058 |
There is nothing quite so sacred as a grandmother's quilt. As to the poem, I loved the line "finish her for us because we could not"...so powerful in its brevity. |
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BluesSerenade Member Patricius
since 2001-10-23
Posts 10549By the Seaside |
I think she knew she wouldn't finish, but she started anyway, did the best part, the part that would be herself, My goodness, you have sewn some fine lines and stitched them beautifully here~ Thank you for sharing the warmth, dear Sir~ Gosh, this is something very special!! |
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Ratleader
since 2003-01-23
Posts 7026Visiting Earth on a Guest Pass |
I owe Martie a thank-you for this one, by the way.... I showed her rough verses about a month ago and experssed doubt that I'd ever make a poem out of it. So thank you good lady, if you hadn't urged me to keep working on it, I probably wouldn't have. ~~(¸¸¸¸ºº> ~~(¸¸¸¸ºº> ~~(¸¸ ¸¸ºº> ~~~(¸¸ER¸¸ºº> |
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passing shadows Member Empyrean
since 1999-08-26
Posts 45577displaced |
 gosh Ed... |
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Martie
Moderator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-09-21
Posts 28049California |
Ed...I'm so glad that you finished this beautiful quilt of words...your thread is made of the finest tenderness and laced with love, the kind that lasts. |
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ice Member Elite
since 2003-05-17
Posts 3404Pennsylvania |
Simply beautiful, I love poems about people...especially the ones we knew in life and are no more...thanks for sharing your feelings through this wonderful piece.... _________ice ><> |
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NewEnglandlazurlu Member Rara Avis
since 2002-01-04
Posts 7470A Mountain Paradise |
Ed, what a phenomenal write and interesting bit of family history. My dearly beloved auntie, 86, is dying of cancer. She pulled out of her hope chest a quilt she had made for her wedding bed and is finally using it. She is so proud of that quilt and I think it makes her feel close to her deceased husband and gives her comfort. Thank you for writing this. It brought a bucket load of tears and I needed to release them. Hugs, Marti 'You cannot shake hands with a clenched fist.' |
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iliana Member Patricius
since 2003-12-05
Posts 13434USA |
Dear Ratleader, my sister, whom you know as Sadelite, told me to watch for you. This is such a touching work you have written, a "quilt" of your own. This reaches out to any of us who remain from a certain generation. Thanks, it brought memories of my Aunt Vaudra teaching me to cross-stitch.
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Bonnie j Senior Member
since 2003-06-27
Posts 1588Ohio |
I love your patch quilt, you tell us such a warm, loving story. The ending was so touching, so beautiful. I wrote a story about my son and his patch quilt. I would love to share with you for his quilt is filled with love also. Love and hugs Bon-Bon  |
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steavenr Member Elite
since 2003-11-17
Posts 4058 |
It was good to see and read this one again. |
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