Quilts, Flags, and other Wrappings, From a series on AIDS Options

[saore]

This is formated, but the format does not show up here. These are bits and pieces put together about the fate of a few dear friends who died of AIDS. The events are all true but they do not belong to one specific person.

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Quilts, Flags, and other Wrappings


I started the quilt
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.

I stopped stitching
when you drove that bulldozer
in sight of all those present

at Jose's welfare funeral just because
he was gay, and my friend.
Stared at the tangled patches of quilt
as they threw me into a paddy wagon

took me to jail for protesting
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
from becoming homeless
made you shudder
at the funeral expense if he died
while the blotch of endearment you gave him

was still on that piece
of white insignificance.
Then I added the names.