One
day I'm gonna sew me a patchwork quilt
and rich in history it will be laid
I'm gonna gather pieces from here and there
and not stop until it's all made
First of all there will be patches of gold
to show for the kings and the queens
My ancestors from Africa who were sold
to build up the Haitian man's dream
Second there will be patches of black
and upon them I will sew tears
To show for the struggle and the poverty
that my people have endured all these years
Third there will be patches of blue
to show for the sky up above
The sky that my father looked up to
as he sailed to the freedom he loved
Fourth there will be patches of red
to show for the blood, tears and sweat
The struggles my father had all his life
even in freedom oppression was met
Fifth is a patch of pure white
to show for the love that he found
A woman who had eyes for him filled with love
their marriage was strong and was sound
Sixth there will be patches of green
to show for the children they bore
I will sew flowers upon every square
for his children made his heart sore
The seventh will be only one square
a delicate shade of pink pastel
She was here for only a moments time
but the love in his heart she held
Eighth will be a square of grey
to show for the longing he had
To visit his homeland and family
he left years ago as a lad
Ninth will be of a wondrous hue
a lavender patch rich and bold
It shows the grief held in her heart
and arms that are empty and cold
The squares of ten will be bright yellow
for he brought sunshine to everyone he met
And your life was far more the better
after this man in your heart you did let
Yes, I'm gonna sew me a patchwork quilt
the colors of a man's life it will be made
I'm gonna gather the pieces from here and there
and so rich in my history it will be laid
Copyright © July 2000 Island Princess....All Rights Reserved
