Quilts
By Nikki Giovanni
Like a fading piece of cloth
I am a failure
No longer do I cover tables filled with food and laughter
My seams are frayed my hems falling my strength no longer able
To hold the hot and cold
I wish for those first days
When just woven I could keep water
From seeping through
Repelled stains with the tightness of my weave
Dazzled the sunlight with my
Reflection
I grow old though pleased with my memories
The tasks I can no longer complete
Are balanced by the love of the tasks gone past
I offer no apology only
this plea:
When I am frayed and strained and drizzle at the end
Please someone cut a square and put me in a quilt
That might keep some child warm
And some old person with no one else to talk to
Will hear my whispers
And
cuddle
near
Analysis
The poem Quilts is written based on a person's growing age and how the person feels about getting old and useless. It uses the simile, "Like a fading piece of cloth, I am a failure" to describe that the person feels useless like a worn piece of cloth. "My seams are frayed my hems falling my strength no longer
able to hold the hot and cold" refers to the fading strength of the person that doesn't have the strength to do things that they could do before. "When just woven I could keep water from seeping through, repelled stains with the tightness of my weave, dazzled the sunlight with my, reflection". This analogy is used to describe the person's feelings of exhilaration when they were young. They were much "tighter", stronger and beautiful. The person longs for theses times, but is still pleased with the memories of the past as he/she is getting older. The things that they can no longer do are balanced with the things that they love to do. The last analogy in this poem is as the person grows old like the table cloth, it has a simple wish; to be cut out in a square and be put in a quit to keep some child warm. This analogy indicates that the person wants a little part of their life to help or comfort someone so they can feel like they are remembered and cared for.
Like a fading piece of cloth
I am a failure
No longer do I cover tables filled with food and laughter
My seams are frayed my hems falling my strength no longer able
To hold the hot and cold
I wish for those first days
When just woven I could keep water
From seeping through
Repelled stains with the tightness of my weave
Dazzled the sunlight with my
Reflection
I grow old though pleased with my memories
The tasks I can no longer complete
Are balanced by the love of the tasks gone past
I offer no apology only
this plea:
When I am frayed and strained and drizzle at the end
Please someone cut a square and put me in a quilt
That might keep some child warm
And some old person with no one else to talk to
Will hear my whispers
And
cuddle
near
Analysis
The poem Quilts is written based on a person's growing age and how the person feels about getting old and useless. It uses the simile, "Like a fading piece of cloth, I am a failure" to describe that the person feels useless like a worn piece of cloth. "My seams are frayed my hems falling my strength no longer
able to hold the hot and cold" refers to the fading strength of the person that doesn't have the strength to do things that they could do before. "When just woven I could keep water from seeping through, repelled stains with the tightness of my weave, dazzled the sunlight with my, reflection". This analogy is used to describe the person's feelings of exhilaration when they were young. They were much "tighter", stronger and beautiful. The person longs for theses times, but is still pleased with the memories of the past as he/she is getting older. The things that they can no longer do are balanced with the things that they love to do. The last analogy in this poem is as the person grows old like the table cloth, it has a simple wish; to be cut out in a square and be put in a quit to keep some child warm. This analogy indicates that the person wants a little part of their life to help or comfort someone so they can feel like they are remembered and cared for.