The Ugly Quilt by Patricia Wellingham-Jones

The Ugly Quilt
by
Patricia Wellingham-Jones

Tight white curls bend over

a rectangular table

in the church basement.

Overhead light bounces

silver sparks from needle,

thimble, snips.

Through the steady hum of voices

fingers knobby with arthritis

dart and pluck and fold.

Pull coils from ancient electric

blankets, throw the tangle away.

Cut the fabric just large enough

to wrap around one homeless body.

From heaps of scraps, one woman

salvages the good bits, piles

them in front of each stitcher.

The quilts grow, random piece

by erratic pattern covering

the cut-off blankets. Finished,

goodies find their way

inside – warm socks, a toothbrush

and paste. Small luxuries

seldom seen on the street.

Shaped in a bedroll,

delivered to the shelter,

out of mind.

The hands are busy

with the next lot.

Once in a great while sharp blue eyes

under a crown of white frizz

spot a strange-looking quilt

rolled across a weary shoulder

and smile.

This poem first appeared in EDGZ (2000).
Used here with the author’s permission.

Patricia Wellingham-Jones is a former psychology researcher and writer/editor with poetry widely published in journals, anthologies and Internet magazines. Author of ten books, her work appeared most recently in The Widow's Handbook (Kent State University Press). Patricia has a special interest in healing writing and leads a cancer center writing group. She lives in Los Molinos, California.

Dorcas:
Treasures are found in strange places, even a homeless shelter, all in the knowledge of creativity. Interesting poem
Posted 05/21/2014 08:47 AM

Cindy:
a touching poem, all the more because I know it is true
Posted 05/21/2014 08:29 AM

Eiken:
Just beautiful :)
Posted 05/21/2014 03:50 AM

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