I listened to and now remember poignant memories of a survivor. No matter what I think I have seen in my life, I know that I have not experienced a fraction of what others have endured in the way of war, famine and terrible loss. The women of Hitler's wrath, and he hated more than just Jews, were faced with far more than I have ever even imagined ... and yet, some survived to tell their tales ... I did them the kindness of listening well ... I will always listen:
How a stitch in time saved nine long ago ...
Today this simple mending chore
brought memories of tales from others
I have listened to who knitted
in the cold to buy food to eat ...
meager rations from refuse of
potato, beet, stale bread ...
these starved hardworking mothers
ever grateful they weren't dead ...
creative stitches for survival as
hands labored to buy rotten cabbages;
life-bargaining with far-off gaze
while they dreamed of family and heat.
once young and vibrant women
courted, wooed, wedded and bedded
with flowers and candy and kisses, now
memories locked in stitches to get fed.
"How a stitch in time saved nine long ago . . ."
© Ali Cecilie Sonder June 2000
MORE INSPIRATION
Just a few sites that are constantly expanding:
- DRAGONHAIME: The Poets' Refuge
- Massive site of poetry resources, links, verses
- The dragoncairn on Dragonhaime
- Ali to Ullie and others in verse
- Yours TruLeigh and Friends
- Writers resources linked here ... and some poetry
- INSPIRATION
- Some verses from other poets to inspire
- WindFall Haiku
- Haiku resources, instructions and verses
