The Fabric of Gee's Bend: Coveralls
Sewing a quilt. Gees Bend, Alabama Other Title: Jennie Pettway and another girl with the quilter Jorena Pettway
1937
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
http://dversepoets.com/2011/11/15/open-link-night-week-28/
and posted for Poets United Poetry Pantry #129
http://dversepoets.com/2011/11/15/open-link-night-week-28/
and posted for Poets United Poetry Pantry #129
This breaks my heart a little, but beautifully with your cornbread, sneaked gin and quilt of love.
ReplyDeletethank you.
Thank you Jannie---
DeleteGreat writing Audrey.
ReplyDeleteThank you Dennis!
ReplyDelete*sigh*
ReplyDeleteYeah, it's like that. The language only adds to the appeal of this.
Thank you Fireblossom--I loved your piece as well!
DeleteLovely sentiment, nicely formed and it flows beautifully as a tribute should - I hope the scents are still there :)
ReplyDeleteThank you Steve! I am trying to figure out if you use a pan name--so I can return the favor---
Deletesmiles...the stitched quilt of coveralls made me smile...and thinking of wrapping yourself in bits of them...i too hope the smells are still there...
ReplyDeleteThank you Brian!
DeleteAromas evoke such a depth of emotion in us often don't they? I completely related to the woman in this glorious poem and her desire to cover herself in a blanket made with the coveralls of the one she loved. Awesome!
ReplyDeleteSmells...bring back such memories...nicely penned!
ReplyDeleteIt was an amazing thing to see these quilts and read these womens' stories--
DeleteYou bring to life these memories and emotions by evoking all the senses, hearing, touch, smell, taste, sight. That's all you can ask of poetry.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much Semaphore!
Delete"They still smell like you"...the scent of love lingers. Beautiful, beautiful writing.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much Laura! This piece has continued to resonate in my brain pan--
DeleteI envy poets who can weave rich history into their work - you've definitely done a good job with that here. I really like the conversational tone and flow of the poem, very natural.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much--I love your work!
DeleteWell weaved, well spun...a wonderful, all be it a little sad, write that was a pleasure to read. Much enjoyed Poet!
ReplyDeleteThank you Natasha! I get much pleasure in reading and writing!
Deleteaw, this is so sad. I love how you named all of the day to day things that we never think about unitl someone is gone from them. I also enjoyed the dialect you used in this. very good.
ReplyDeleteSheila
Thank you Sheila!
DeleteLiken the poem Audrey... just quietly If I ever see another quilt Ill go hit someone lol long story ;)
ReplyDeleteOk A need to tell me about that one---
DeleteThe image of the coveralls stitched together, along with all the little things that remind us another, is very effective here. The voice is ckear and well drawn, though I wonder whether some of the phrasing isn't a bit strained.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much! I am wondering if you be willing to let me know more about what feels strained to you---I'd like to look more closely--thank you!
DeleteMy great-grandma made quilts out of the family's old denims. They were so warm and heavy and smelled of woodsmoke. I wish I had one!
ReplyDelete"And covered myself in you,
ReplyDeleteSo I can smell you and dream of you
Through the long winter."
oh what a wonderful loving image...I FEEL it... thank you for this.
Lyrical, this character piece feels genuine and true. Nice work.
ReplyDeleteBeautifully composed. I have read about those quilts, and your poem brings them to life.
ReplyDeleteOh,wow1 Love how it reads out loud and the message is so poignant. It's like a story in a short poem. How this person found a way to comfort herself by making a blanket of the overalls. Incredible solution. I did the same thing with my son's shirts so I know the comfort it can bring.
ReplyDeleteSo poignant, capturing perfectly the loss, the remembering.......makes one want to know the story. And I gather there are more quilts with more stories - what a rich source of material is all around us! I loved the film The Making of an American Quilt - the women quilters all had amazing stories, too.
ReplyDeleteTruly a well written poem, I have one of those patchwork quilts stored away been in the family for many years. I never use it anymore for fear of damaging it but the memories are still there and your poem brought them alive once more.
ReplyDeleteI hate to be crude, but, the first thing I thought was holy fuck. That was an awed reaction, by the way. Others mentioned the history you built into this work, and, it's quite fantastic to read. The frankness and emotion were so, so good.
ReplyDeleteVery evocative, and sad in a hopeful way, too: I loved the end.
ReplyDeletea very beautiful piece of work.
ReplyDeleteBeautifully written..
ReplyDeleteIt is like that, indeed, how good it was is a measure of the lingering need to touch, to smell . . . a quilt, a covering, how comforting if absence cannot be cured. I know.
ReplyDeletelovely storytelling, Audrey! i've seen several articles/online exhibits of the quilts from Gee's Bend and they are truly pieces of art! i love the idea of keeping someone's memory close and covering oneself in it! beautiful!
ReplyDeletewishing you a very happy New Year!
♥
This is knitted together with love. I love it!
ReplyDelete