Quilts, Flags, and other Wrappings
Quilts, Flags, and other Wrappings
I started the quilt
when the only reminder
of civility I had was a stuffed doll
when the only reminder
of civility I had was a stuffed doll
whose button eyes
fell off.
Sewed while bathing
under the moon’s
eclipse
and watched you throw my porcelain spoons—
a collection of gifts, against the wall.
and watched you throw my porcelain spoons—
a collection of gifts, against the wall.
I stopped stitching
when you drove that
bulldozer
in sight of all those present
in sight of all those present
at Jose's welfare
funeral
just because he was
gay and my friend.
I glared at the
tangled patches of quilt
as they threw me into a paddy wagon
as they threw me into a paddy wagon
took me to jail for
protesting
that unwinnable war.
that unwinnable war.
I climbed into bed
even as Allen lay
covered with
Kaposi’s sarcoma
to calm both our
fears, his and mine.
Studied you when a
signature
to keep your only brother
to keep your only brother
from becoming homeless
made you shudder
at the funeral
expense if he died
while the blotch of
endearment you gave him
was still warm on that piece
of white insignificance.
Then I added the
names.
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