PATCHWORK
when life has been long
years are stitched together
like scraps in Grandma's quilt
you don't remember the dates
except by recognizing the swatches
of life, family, love and sometimes pain
that was the year you got married
the year you gave your life to God
the year your children were born
the years your grandparents and
your parents passed away
years patched together with events
I consider how Grandma's quilts
embodied so many memories and smiles
a scrap of Grandma's worn out dress
a square of Grandpa's flannel shirt
familiar pieces of life in her creation
things so simple, small, profound
I have a large quilt now, large enough
for a generous king sized coverlet
sometimes I look at the patches
they bring joy and they bring sorrow
but, like Grandma's priceless quilt
all of them are familiar and treasured
