Guest Post

This is a poem written by my "rug hooking" wife Carolyn. The poem was printed in The Loop
Magazine of the Rug Hooking Guild of Nova Scotia in the September, 2007 issue.

WORDS FROM A HOOKED RUG


I am the family wardrobe, best and worst
From all of its members
The last - to the first.

Grandpa's "salt and pepper," used in the barn
The bill frayed and ravelled
And mended with yarn.
Grandma's old shawl that had been passed on down
Woven in warm colors
And worn in to town.

Ma's wedding dress - rich plum, faded to taupe
Once hemmed and twice borrowed
And worn with much hope.
Pa's red flannels which gave quite an itch
Were worn in the coal-mine
With hopes to get rich.

Skirts and petticoats; shorts and pants
All of good quality
Sent home by "the Aunts".
Uncle John's uniform, worn in the war
It was said he was tall
But it hung to the floor.

Clothes from our children, now all gone and grown
Bring back lots of memories
Of childhood and home.
Johnnie's brown snow-pants; patched at the knee
From coasting too quickly
And stopped by a tree.
Mary's red jumper with buttons to match
Got snagged on barbed wire
So, had a small patch.

Old people and memories recalled with a smile
Get hooked in these treasures
And remembered a while.
So gently! Tread carefully when walking on me
You'll be sculffing the bark
Of your old family tree.