The Quilt Poem by Sidi Mahtrow

She made the quilt piece-by-piece
From Bull Durham sacks, each-by-each.
Carefully emptied, washed and dried
Then so carefully dyed.

Sewed them together just so
So that the colors blended as you know.
Her quilt of red, blue and white colors, available.
Were the colors that were most stable.

Then a batting She so carefully formed
With carding brushes to remove the seed.
Laid the cotton out thin, straight and flat
So that there were no lumps or things like that.

Sewed the top to the bottom of bleached muslin
For that was the only cloth She had in.
And edged the quilt with a dyed band
Of that same muslin kind.

Now the quilt is a treasure to be sure
From the hand that poverty endured,
Yet She never thought She was poor
As She had so much; much more.
A loving family and home
A place to come to; never alone.

Those Bull Durham sacks
remain, a part of history,
Something to reinforce our fading,
time-warped memory.
Of a time and a place
That our dear Mother graced.