Crazy Quilt Poems

Grandmother's Parlor by Priscilla Schrock

A Crazy Quilt by Douglas Malloch

Interior Decor by Barbara S. Kelsey

Ode to CQ Central by Libby Magnello

This poem is reprinted from Good Housekeeping, October 25, 1890.

Oh, say, can you see by the dawn's early light,
What you failed to perceive at the twilight's last gleaming;
A crazy concern that through the long night
O'er the bed where you slept was so saucily streaming;
The silk patches so fair,
Round, three-cornered and square
Gives proof that the lunatic bed-quilt is there.
Oh, the crazy-quilt mania triumphantly raves,
And maid, wife, and widow are bound as its slaves

On that quilt dimly seen as you rouse from your sleep
Your long-missing necktie in silence reposes,
And the filoselle insects that over it creep,
A piece of your vest half-conceals, half discloses;
There is Kensington-stitch
In designs that are rich,
Snow-flake, arrasene, point russe and all sich.
Oh, the crazy-quilt mania, how long will it rave?
And how long will fair woman be held its slave?

And where is the wife who so vauntingly swore
That nothing on earth her affections could smother?
She crept from your side at the chiming of four
And is down in the parlor at work on another.
Your breakfasts are spoiled,
And your dinners half-boiled,
And your efforts to get a square supper are foiled
By the crazy-quilt mania that fiendishly raves,
And to which all the women are absolute slaves.

And thus it has been since the panic began,
In many loved homes it has wrought desolation,
And cursed is the power by many a man,
That has brought him so close to the verge of starvation,
But make it she must,
She will do it or bust,
Beg, swap, and buy pieces or get them on trust,
Oh, the crazy-quilt mania, may it soon cease to rave
In the land of the free and the home of the brave.
-Anonymous

Grandmother's Parlor

I remember the quilt, made with loving care,
Draped over the back of her favorite chair,
In my Grandmother's parlor.

A quilt full of pictures, a quilt full of love,
With birds stitched in gold, seen flying above,
In my Grandmother's parlor.

Made with purples and reds and colors so bright,
The browns and the greens and even some white,
In my Grandmother's parlor.

As I sat on the floor my fingers would glide,
Tracing designs over threads narrow and wide,
In my Grandmother's parlor.

I would give all I have for a chance to be there,
In my Grandmother's lap, in her favorite chair,
In my Grandmother's parlor.

Priscilla Schrock

Taken from The Romance of the Patchwork Quilt in America.

A Crazy Quilt

They do not make them any more,
For quilts are cheaper at the store
Than woman's labor, though a wife
Men think the cheapest thing in life.
But now and then a quilt is spread
Upon quaint old walnut bed,
A crazy quilt of those days
That I am old enough to praise.

Some woman sewed these points and squares
Into a pattern like life's cares.
Here is a velvet that was stong,
The poplin that she wore so long,
A fragment from her daughter's dress,
Like her, a vanished loveliness;
Old patches of such things as these,
Old garments and old memories.

And what is life? A crazy quilt;
Sorrow and joy, and grace and guilt,
With here and there a square of blue
For some old happiness we knew;
And so the hand of time will take
The fragments of our lives and make,
Out of life's remnants, as they fall,
A thing of beauty, after all.

Douglas Malloch

Interior Decor

Floating in my studio
moored by shiny thread.
Spangles hide the shadows
lurking dimly overhead.

Dancing hankies circle,
buttoned to the air.
Beads cascading shimmer past
the lame of my hair.

Velvet drapes stir softly,
ripple in the keen
of breathy whispers caught inside
their rich and muffling sheen.

Mother's satin evening gown
spills crystals from its seams.
Weeping colors melt my face.
I vanish in my dreams.

Barbara S. Kelsey

Ode to CQ Central

Dawn had an idea, down in Arkansas--
to make the best Crazy Quilt website anyone ever saw.
The name she pondered ..she didn't know
what to call this place CQ'ers could go!
As she added information,texts,pictures,and links
she noticed the formation of a Central gathering place!
That's how CQ Central came to be--
the favorite gathering place for you and me!

A history of Crazy Quilting, known as 'CQ'
lots of links to other places with things to see and do!
There is a FAQ sheet full of things you should know
there are pictures of blocks filled with ribbons and bows!
Stitches in satin, silk ribbon,both fancy and plain
by cruising this site, much knowledge can be gained.
Wisdom passed down woman to woman for ages
Guys can play, too! Many surprises are in these pages!
Dawn has shared freely with one and all-
with all who answer the "CQ call"...

Here in this world an adventure waits for you-
you'll see everything with a different view!
'What got into her?' They'll say as you rush by
with scissors in hand, a strange gleam in your eye-
intent on your goal, the Craft or Thrift store,
the corner yard sale, where you can find MORE...
For can there ever be enough STUFF bought?
Never, I say! Perish the thought!
Nothing will be safe, from your head to your feet
Even the tassels on your shoes a 'CQ fate' could meet!

Spiders and webs,
needles and threads..
taffeta and moire
enter into the foray!
Velvet and silk
make our DH's wallets wilt!
Build up your stash, with ribbons galore
Many beads, buttons, charms and more
up to the ceiling and stuff all the drawers!
( a quick meal for the family- coke and s'mores)

Thanks to Quiltropolis, the Quilter's Metropolis!
It is the host for the CQ post,
and the post is how we learn the most!
Let's not forget all the wonderous swaps, too!
Where all can share STUFF- 700 others and you!
All the recipes, hints, and tips we share
To expand our time, and still show our family we care!
WARNING- a poineer type person is what it will take
one who can sew, and nurture and still have time to bake!

You can make your CQ any way you want it to be
Dawn and CQ Central make it soooo easy!
There is also Quiltropolis! The Quilter's Metropolis!
It is the host for the CQ post,

Libby Magnello

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