Swath upon swath piece upon piece each pain filled square emerged
a frail, undernourished body
an African slave child
pieces of a tear torn story
raped
ripped
rough
edges too sharp to smooth

Kali was a child of chained mother and father
sold to a master at market
she
given away for free
to a childless couple
too full to notice her beauty
too numb to protect a child  

this child taken in
to use & abuse
to serve
to clean
to cook
keep the fires ablaze

Kali knew her place
was ‘no’ place

she cast naught a shadow
even when entering a room

yet late at night
by attic light
swath by swath
shade by shade
her patched soul’s quilt emerged