Time to take out the creativity kit,
channel Betsy Ross, and stitch
a new flag of unity
from the chiaroscuro scraps
of tunnel-visioned division,
the biased binding of
fanatics.
Make a new chromatic
comforter of unity.
Compose a quilted love song
to my country
that makes us all take one knee,
aching from the weight
of fear-based imagery,
and the sight of stubborn ones
fighting over freedoms
like fancy fabrics;
they won’t let go
until they rip them in two.
If only I could find you
a universal needle,
instrument of our foremothers,
have these quilters describe
to us, their descendants,
why they set their family squares
in the only land I know
without foundation
piercing through.
I’d double line my work
with much to learn:
fabric slightly off the grain
is still useable,
easing is possible
through continued back-stitching,
and honorable collaboration
makes the best cloths.
Let us each switch swaths
of consciousness,
experience homespun discrimination,
hate and the hand of displacement,
rips in the fabric we carry inside.
Wrap us in a new kindred shawl
with long right and left arms,
a homogenous hug,
hold us all there
and remind each of us–
our creation is home.
This poem is my promise quilt
to always listen,
to kneel before purple mountains,
nature’s majesty,
and to love all of the swatches of
my homeland,
my country,
the lattice quilt of the free.
© khartless 2021, All Rights Reserved
“Our hearts aching, our prayers praying, our flags waving, never forget.”
Betsy Ross
Even though I can’t attend this evening’s Open Link Night at d’Verse, I wanted to share this poem that I wrote living abroad, but that I thought appropriate to share today in a time of thankfulness.
I have the utmost respect for all of the women and men that have served my country and their dedication to fighting for freedom, liberty, and justice for all. HappyVeteran’s Day, and if you are a veteran, I thank you kindly for your sacrifice and service.
Artwork: A vintage 1930 Tintogravure pin-up print by John Knowles Hare titled “Betsy Ross.”
Yard Sale of Thoughts 
Wow, K. This is a stunningly powerful and beautiful poem. A wondrous message here, elegantly and powerfully delivered. I love it.
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Thank you very much, Jeff. I have an attachment to this one, and it was nice to see it evolve for today.
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You’re most welcome, K. Always. I’m so glad you shared it with us today.
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This is breathtakingly beautiful! 😀 I love the idea of “a new chromatic
comforter of unity.”
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Thank you, Sanaa. I think here in America we have the most diversity and that is our strength.
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This was beautiful! I loved
“from the chiaroscuro scraps
of tunnel-visioned division,
the biased binding of
fanatics.”
🙂
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So good. I hope you can stich us back together.
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Thank you, Ron. I’m definitely brave enough to try, but many hands make light work. 🙂
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We need this dedicated needlework, as the narrative shows, not just for embellishment, but for practical cohesion, for warmth and comfort, and for that love of our home which should cover us all under the same blanket. If only we could find the needle, have a skilled needlewoman stitch it all back together. Great use of metaphor and description.
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What a delightful extension of the concept. Thank you, hedgewitch. Overwhelming, but when taken stitch by stitch, ever so possible.
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I would like to see more unity the world over! Beautifully done.
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Agreed. Thanks for this kind comment, Ingrid.
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excellent and timely: may it happen 🙂
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Thank you; I’m ready to start stitching.
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it is a good thing you’re doing; the desire/ passion for unity can be exemplified in all the arts: remember Blue Mink’s ‘Melting Pot’ ?
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I enjoyed this very much. 😊
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A stunning poem, K.Hartless. I love all the sewing terms and imagery to express your sentiments, the idea of being wrapped in the hug of the kindred cloth and each sharing swathes of consciousness. Really beautiful ❤
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The imagery of needlework to describe unity is a very good one… I wonder how much people realize how much patching might be required…
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Thank you. Yes, I know for me, it’s always better to just focus on the few “squares” in front of me and not get too overwhelmed by the big picture. Maybe it could be the same for a country? I appreciate your kind comments, Björn.
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This is so beautifully written. I wish we could stitch things up and make a quilt out of all the diverse and unique patches.
It hasn’t happened ever, but it would be lovely.
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The more colorful the swaths, the more beautiful the quilt. I’ve always believed. Thank you for such a kind comment.
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You’re welcome!
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I really liked this, from the title to the needlework motif through the end. I think it can be quite difficult to write a good effective poem about construction, unity, and hope and yet you’ve done so here in a really effective way while paying homage Betsy Ross. [I’m reminded of a poem I wrote awhile ago about the dysfunctional state of our country (https://jewishyoungprofessional.wordpress.com/2021/09/29/american-pie/ if you’re curious), but like I said, it is easier to criticize and cut down vs. to construct and build]
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Thank you. I will definitely read your link, and I agree. Unity is spoken of but only in abstraction. Like a quilt, to me, there’s something about unity that means being okay with sharing borders with those that are different from ourselves. I truly appreciate your reading and commenting.
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