Turning a Row

I attend to a display book of
quilters’ life work, wondering—

how love inscribes its wanderings
in patterns in a Blocks and Strips sheening,

its Sears’ corduroy complementary colors,
blazoned on blue, expresses what I wished

on last night’s slew of stars.
Friend, time is shorter, and all

I want to do is make myself useful.
Toiling calls for a yearning

beyond predictable change—
harrowed in all ways—

May such memory remnants find a purpose,
warmth and shelter become

beautiful, with imbuement—
an image of one soul turning to another.

One, in Housetop style,
from sky-view, reveals

a grid of nestled square cut-outs
from out of its maker’s clothes,
her own head-scarf at the center,
radiating a sunrise
moistening rays over rows,
like the time I said, Dad, I love you,
pieced to his, the feeling is mutual—
a beginning turning to an end.

Russell Endo

Russell Endo is third generation Japanese American (“Sansei”) named after “Grandma” Harriet Russell who helped his mom’s family in Philadelphia, Pa., after WWII relocation. Endo’s mother became a Quaker. Endo attended his grandmother’s Fair Hill Meeting then Green Street Meeting (both in Philadelphia) after Fair Hill was laid down and is a member at Green Street.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Maximum of 400 words or 2000 characters.

Comments on Friendsjournal.org may be used in the Forum of the print magazine and may be edited for length and clarity.