Grief Stitch – in the form of Afro-Carolinian Quilt Stitch
When peace like a river attendeth my way, when sorrows like sea billows roll
I only have two memories of my grandaddy, but by all accounts he was a tender man
Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say, It is well, it is well, with my soul
snapping beans with him, while the Michigan winter raged outside
It is well with my soul
and wrapping my tiny arms around his neck as cancer raged inside his body
It is well with my soul
his death, a baptism in grief, a baptism into my life as a bearer of all that is unlanguagable
3 thoughts on "Grief Stitch – in the form of Afro-Carolinian Quilt Stitch"
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.
That shift from ‘Michigan winter raged outside’ to ‘cancer raged inside’ is a great and devastating parallel. This piece is a sophisticated stitching that shows an emotional depth.
Beautiful play off the hymn verses, to the concrete memory.
Grief Stitch is such a great title. I love how you wove hymn lines with the speaker’s voice