“It’s not coming together,” Mom fusses,
ripping out stitches of the appliqué.
“Don’t know why I’m having trouble.”
“May I help?” I ask.
“No, no,” she answers briskly.
“After ten of these I should know what I’m doing.”
Mom is in her 90’s, hands shaky,
eyes seeing only periphery.
Quilting’s been her passion, comfort, pride;
Sunbonnet Sue her specialty in county fairs.
Now she stitches and rips out, impatient
with the scraps of life’s gingham.
She may never finish. Just as well.
My hands will need solace
when she’s gone.
– Sarah Russell
Photo courtesy of Etsy
For the “quilts” prompt at Real Toads
Sarah Russell Poetry 
Oh… I’m quite emotional after reading this one. Just lovely Added it to my favorite poems on my Pinterest…
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Thanks so much, Margaret, for your kind words and saving this poem. My mother-in-law made Sunbonnet Sue’s for 3 of the 4 granddaughters she “inherited” when I married into the family, plus 7 more for her other granddaughters and great-granddaughters. This last one will be mine to finish, I’m afraid. It frustrates her so much that her eyesight has failed.
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A fine quilt here of mother-to-daughter crafting, one hand failing, the other taking up the work. Sunbonnet Sue is such a fine crisp image of a family icon. With my aging parents I notice how frustrated they get that the spirit is still willing while the body weakens so.
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Yes, I don’t think Sunbonnet Sue will ever be replaced, although I’ve seen some rather rude tongue-in-cheek interpretations. Thanks for visiting, Brendan.
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What a beautful but sad poem of the realization that things will change. Even this mere male thinks that the Sunbonnet Sues are delightful.
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Thanks a lot, Robin.
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This is exactly right. The ending is exact. Reminds me of my grandmother who insisted on decorating her Christmas cookies with precise icing long after her hands cooperated with her.
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Your response made me smile. Those shaky-handed cookies… Thanks for visiting, Angie.
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This reminded me of my grandmother’s hands. Really beautiful work.
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Thanks, Kelli.
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This really tugs at the heartstrings.
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She would say, “It ain’t pretty, getting old.” Thanks, Kerry.
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I always loved the sunbonnet Sues. Such a sweet poem tinged with sadness at the prospect of your grandmother’s passing. Nope. My mom used to say that getting old was not for wimps. I love the last lines in this, even though they brought tears to my eyes, remembering my grandmother and my mother.
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I’m sure that some (most?) would find this poem a tad too saccharine, but sometimes, you just put it down like it happened. Thanks, Toni.
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I would equate this to maple sugar – pure, rich, natural, sweet. And sometimes, being a tad too sweet is good for us. Gets into our hearts and winnows our souls. We need to get over ourselves thinking we must always be so serious (I am reminded of Heath Ledger as the Joker always positing, why so serious), must be so literal and logical, must always use fussy language. Give me maple sweet anyday!
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Aw thanks! That helps.
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🙂
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Ah, bitter-sweet. I love your under-statement.
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Thanks, Rosemary. I guess my hands have always helped me figure out grief or loss or anger or joy. Is that the understatement you meant?
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and so tradition is passed…may it always be so…perfect ending.
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Thanks, Paul.
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A very sweet poem; one gets such a strong feeling for the moment as well as relationship. Thanks. k.
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Thanks, Kerry. My mother-in-law has “starred” in at least 6 of my poems. She is an Arkansas farm woman, tough, resourceful, very stubborn. She lives alone (at 94) on her 250 acre farm, where she has lived for 75 years. Refuses to move to be near her children, probably so that they will constantly worry about her. She has seen some of my poems, although she won’t call them poems since they don’t rhyme. 🙂
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