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