Carol Smallwood

“You are never lonely if you have needle and thread.”
She sat straight, wore her hair Gibson Girl style,
fashioned pillow cases with crocheted pink roses for her bed
and made log cabin quilts with invisible stitches by the mile.

She sat straight, wore her hair Gibson Girl style,
her dresser scarves were round, or more often, square
and made log cabin quilts with invisible stitches by the mile
while grandfather listened to the radio—they stayed a pair.

Her dresser scarves were round, or more often, square;
she designed soap holders the color of fall leaves:
while grandfather listened to the radio—they stayed a pair.
The pure linen she used in doilies is rare everyone believes.

She designed soap holders the color of fall leaves,
fashioned pillow cases with crocheted pink roses for her bed;
the pure linen she used in doilies is rare everyone believes.
“You are never lonely if you have needle and thread.”