The Fabric of Gee's Bend: Coveralls

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 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.

  For more information about the quilts of Gee's Bend please go to quilts of Gee's Bend

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

Love's Glance #2

The heart tells the story
of years together
punctuated
with episodes of laughter
sparkling with
the tears
of life's tiny tragedies

wrinkled with age
folded along lines unseen
for convenient transportation
in pocket
or purse

unfolded gently
in the wave 
of autumn's starry heat

warped by the tears
of dusty roads
unkempt tar
and the asphalt of many miles

unbound in love
worn with care
this heart
radiant still
beats
with love and heat
found fresh in the careful glance
that tentative terrain
of love's perfect glance.



copyright/all rights reserved Audrey Howitt 2011

http://dversepoets.com/2011/11/15/open-link-night-week-22/ 

follow me on twitter @AudreyHowitt 

The Notebook of Dreams

I had not intended to write this today

As the sun shines

Through waning days of autumn

I had thought to write

Or of my garden, overgrown

Or of my love for husband or daughters

But

Out of every pore

Loneliness crept out

Showing its face in decayed light

Not joy

Not even ever-defining chores

That surround and fill my day

But the loneliness

That seeps into

Crevices and bone

Making marrow of nights and days

In timely fashion

Perhaps

This was not what I asked for

Or maybe not

But nonetheless

It crowds my thoughts

And permeates my view

I am tempted to cry

The tears of resignation

But remain dry-eyed

In the face of this

My enduring legacy of fear

When I am no more

Will you have known

My secret heart

Will you have found this,

My secret notebook of dreams?

copyright/all rights reserved Audrey Howitt 2011 


posted for dverse
http://dversepoets.com/2011/11/15/open-link-night-week-21/ 

5 Minutes No Editing

Tempest turns within the eye

And marks those who move with it

Mark them by the turn of silvered key

And make them tremble in the wake of time

Circle the timbre of the rings of trees

O dryad of my soul

And wing through the shimmer

Of the language of trees

Hark my heart

And hearten silver tear

To ring around

The heat of my heart

Copyright/All Rights Reserved Audrey Howitt 2011