Quilts can be a story factor with the history behind many civilizations. The effective symbolism in each sew of their unique patterns offers represented a large number of intimate bonds between family members, communities, and friends. In her poem “The Hundred years Quilt, inches Marilyn Waniek effectively demonstrates the importance of her quilt using images, tone, and structure. She is able to express the pleasure she takes in her abundant heritage making use of the symbolism behind it.
By using a descriptive make use of colors, Waniek creates a vivid image of her quilt. “Six Van-Dyke darkish squares, two white, and one sq . the yellowish brown of mama’s cheeks” (15-17). These colors are not only describing the quilt nevertheless also the colors of her background. The quilt is utilized throughout the poem as a prolonged metaphor to imply the truly great amount of pride she takes in her interracial family. She procedes illustrate what she would imagine while sleeping under it. The lady mentions her Father’s “burnt umber pride”(39), her single mother’s “ochre gentleness”(40), and her grandfather’s light family. This demonstrates the diversity inside the poet’s background how they were all able to come together away of love and acceptance for just one another.
Waniek’s diction creates a sentimental tone since she looks back on her behalf Meema’s blanket in love, wrapping herself in that and pretending to be a queen. “I kept in mind how I designed to inherit that blanket” (9-10). The past tense memories she provides at the beginning of her poem emphasizes the impresionable value with the indian blanket. She then juxtaposes this saying that she has now identified a quilt “[she] would like to die under”(13-14). She permits the reader to relive her past through her individual perspective. Someone can see the happiness the girl experienced although under the hundred years quilt as well as the significance all those experiences have to her. Via her reminisces to her dreams about the near future, she is imagining the joy her quilt brings her. She dreams of the future, completing the quilt down to her unconceived child whom the girl suggests the lady might meet up with while dreaming under the quilt.
The structure of the poem is definitely chronological and free-verse. Inside the first stanza, the author tells us about her past with Meema’s quilt. During the second stanza, she describes her present and what the girl with now experiencing with a duvet of her own. In the third stanza, she lets us know what she wishes to get from her quilt later on. The use of framework helps us further appreciate her enjoyment emotions towards her quilt and how this wounderful woman has grown to love and cherish who have she is. It is sketched up together to represent her family bonds and diversity within this. At the end, the girl speaks of the future and the “pattern of leaves”(45) by which the lady names the quilt, which will continue to keep growing as she passes down her satisfaction to the next decades to arrive.
Through imagery, tone, and framework Waniek will be able to emphasize the strong family bonds and deep self-pride that the girl attaches to her Century Quilt. From her childhood thoughts to her traditions there is a superb significance that the quilt provides for her. Aside from its warmness and convenience, it brings her emotional gratification.