Poetry Jam: Poems on Death (and beyond)

This week's Poetry Jam has Chris at The Enchanted Oak requesting that we write on the theme of death. I have chosen a narrative poem about the American Civil War since we have reached its 150th year anniversary.

  A nine-patch quilt, hand-quilted by me

Two Tiny, Nine-Patch Doll Quilts

A tiny, nine-patch doll quilt

lay upon a tiny bed

made especially for Maggie Mae

the year her family fled

from all those scornful Yankees,

who were running through their town

setting homes and lives afire

causing Southern hopes to drown.

A tiny, nine-patch doll quilt

lay upon a tiny crib

made especially for Ellie Sue

the summer when her nib

was loosened from her pen in hand

as the Rebels fired loud

and soon her family stood in fear

with the other Gettysburg crowd.

Two tiny, nine-patch doll quilts

heard two tiny prayers say,

“Dear Lord, please let our battled lands

be placed within Your peaceful stay,

and help our families change their hate

to blessings filled with love.

Then, all of us will recognize

Your blessings from above.”

Two tattered, nine-patch doll quilts

lie in honorable view

for each is cherished dearly

by descendents of the two

who saw their lives so clearly

pass through war’s destructive side

for one hundred years of prayer brought

a Rebel son his Yankee bride.

Jeanne I. Lakatos