"Ring the bells that still can ring,
Forget your perfect offering.
There is a crack in everything,
That’s how the light gets in."
(Leonard Cohen)
I’ve always been crap
at knitting but must admit
to being totally addicted.
Nothing complex
like Fair Isle or Aran;
cardigans and jumpers
way above my league.
Scarves are much more me.
And then of course, there is
my 'pièce de resistance'.
A bedspread – double-bed size;
squares of varying patterns
in a tasteful, buttermilk-cream
and six years in the making.
During which time it saw
the world; Dubai, Delhi
and Dubrovnik. The click-clack
of needles keeping me sane –
terrified as I am of flying
and from climbing the dentist’s
waiting-room walls. The same
at Wycombe General when
my grandson was born, and...
months later, willing my dad
come round from a stroke
which, sadly, he never did.
It kept my daughter warm
in her bed at the hospice;
comforting, she told me...
it smelt of home.
My ‘designer’ quilt
I call it, modelled on
the one I’d seen in Harrods.
Except, there’s something
makes mine extra special;
a hole – dead centre, where
a stitch slipped through.
Just to make it my own...
or so I tell them.
Comments
camilla | May 15, 2010 - 21:03
Oh dear lord your daughter in a hospice. Unbearable thought.
Silver Spun Sand | May 15, 2010 - 21:11
Camilla - yes indeed, but it was a battle bravely fought, which ended on New Year's Eve, 2007. If you are interested, 'Fireworks in the Snow', which I posted in August of 2008 as a tribute to her, tells my daughter's story.
My thanks to you for reading my poem, which was, in every respect, 'homespun'. Have a peaceful weekend.
Tina
Cavalcaderl | May 15, 2010 - 21:36
new Silver-spun-sand
"Fireworks In The Snow" very sad, but beautifully
written,expertly done by you.
This is great,the blanket,the knitting needles,and
all the images the way you tell it.When I knitted,mine hates click click,I could do fair isle
but it strunk twisting the wools.And crotchet blanket
my Nan taught me,I gave it away,missed it. I could only do one cable stitch.Was your's the one you made patchwork takes long time.Crotchet was difficult.Like the colours of it, Harrods aye!
Great for (I.P.)
hope your well. xx
Silver Spun Sand | May 15, 2010 - 21:54
Thanks for reading, Julie and for your, as usual, animated comments.
Glad you enjoyed. I can't crochet though...knitting is difficult enough;-)
I'm fine...as are you it would seem;-)
Tina xx
Beeme | May 15, 2010 - 21:54
Beautiful in its sincerity and truth also very, very sad to hear about your daughter Tina.
Beeme xx
Silver Spun Sand | May 15, 2010 - 21:56
Beeme - what else can I say but 'thanks', from my heart.
Tina xx
shoe | May 16, 2010 - 16:22
A treasure, the blanket and poem both.
Silver Spun Sand | May 16, 2010 - 17:40
Shirley, your words - a poem and a treasure in itself. Thank you;-)
The blanket is older than I care to calculate and it still washes like a dream, even though the wool I used was from the 'bargain bin' at the Oxfam shop. Certainly, quite some bargain.
Have a peaceful week.
Tina
insertponceyfre... | May 16, 2010 - 18:35
I think your blanket sounds perfect, even more so with the hole and the fact that it isn't from Harrods. The poem too
Silver Spun Sand | May 16, 2010 - 18:37
Thank you...so very much;-)
Tina
MistakenMagic | May 16, 2010 - 19:26
Seems like this bed-spread was simply one of the family ;) This is certainly a well-travelled poem about a well-travelled quilt! I think I've read about a lifetime in just a few beautiful stanzas. Well done on the cherry ;)
Magic xxx
Highhat | May 16, 2010 - 20:17
you seem always to bring us very close to our innermost feelings and I commend you on it. Must mean that you feel very close to a lot of things and people ;) sorry to hear about your daughter. that was a bit too close I believe.
Silver Spun Sand | May 16, 2010 - 23:08
'One of the family'; I like that.
Hopefully the moths will not be so keen...although, fingers crossed, it doesn't seem to be their taste, until now at least.
Thanks so much, Magic. I hope and pray things are running according to plan on the academic front.
Tina xxx
Silver Spun Sand | May 16, 2010 - 23:10
You believe rightly, Highhat and, one day, I will believe it is true...Until then, all I can do is write, which is why words like yours really, really help. Thank you.
Tina
Tornado | May 17, 2010 - 18:55
The beauty and truth in your words shines on all of us lucky enough to be reading them. Thank you Tina for sharing.
Tornado
Silver Spun Sand | May 17, 2010 - 20:28
My pleasure, Tornado...and I mean that from my heart. And hey, thanks;-)
Tina
Cavalcaderl | May 19, 2010 - 20:21
new Silver-Spun-Sand
You certainly put ti all in a wonderful way,many
congratulations on the cherry!
Well that was a very special blanket,
and it travelled long ways.and of course your daughter,would have felt the warmth and love from the blanket.
No been bit rough,couldn't say much right both.
Plus rushed around for tickets for "American Tap Dance show,not on the door sold.so more walking,stopped lunch 2 cheese jacket potatoes and tea.Down escalator,so hot in there.Onto bus.No air
later on,plus I pulled things here,looking my old tap shoes,for fun bent over,whoops.and moving things.Didn't agree with me,so had rest.Unfortunately
couldn't go,wanted too so much.I know been your favourite too.As you mentioned you have tap shoes.Rock N Roll,one can join in.Don't know about tap.No good,just the beat.It is a year yesterday since joined AbcTales I think I have improved,all the help too,from all and you,and Editor Tony Cook.
So re-done, "The Secret Garden". Not as a comp.taken out Park bench,and Red dress.As wanted put something
on mark year,so re-altered it.
So bed early and finished reading, a most sad book had long time at first.I just couldn't stop.Sad,intrigueing,exciting,amazing,hard working,never stopped,noon till night.All can say.
No singing to-day,or went to Cappella.
Silver Spun Sand | May 19, 2010 - 20:51
Julie - glad you enjoyed;-) Congratulations on your anniversary with ABC...my goodness, doesn't time fly? And yes, you have improved no end, and it has been wonderful to witness. So don't stop;-) The sky is the limit, eh?
Tina xx
Cavalcaderl | May 20, 2010 - 11:56
NEW Silver-Spun-Sand
thankyou you are to kind,your
the expert one.Just re-done "My
Dear Lorraine and made it Our Dear
Lorraine.Tried to paragraph stanzas get it right
.But as Updated for her Birthday. Some how if
not said,Track column comes on to 2 done,twice.
Well, Editor's help t.cook (Tony) and you Silver-Spun-Sand, also Kheldar "Crocdile Tears" he pleased
help and do.Advice from MistakenMagic,and Beeme.
Sometimes I look,I think did I really manage that.
Bird's singing,lovely.2nd Wheelie Bin now got,not lost one.Kept sending black small bins.I don't think arguments,help my neck.And missing that show was a shame.Take care.Bless you.
julie xx