Sep 2, 2009

A Husband's Lament


I’ve always known that life was full of obstacles and woes.
I’ve learned to live with sickness, death, taxes, heaven knows.
I’ve taken all these things in stride, the problems and strife,
But one I didn’t count on was a Quilter for a wife.

Come home from work, the stove is cold, the dirty clothes still there,
The suit I wanted cleaned today, still laying on the chair.
“Where’s Mama, son?” I asked my boy, “This house is such a mess.
Why, all the sheets are missing, we’ve been burglarized I guess.”

“No, Mama stripped down all the beds and took the sheets away.
She cut them into little strips and pieced two quilts today.
“ Why every pair of pants I own is cut in little squares.
“I’m demonstrating appliqué”, my lovely wife declares.

I show up in the office in my boxer shorts and tie.
My secretary giggles and the clerks give me the eye.
It’s freezing cold, I’m shaking and my knees are turning blue.
My boss considered firing me, but his wife’s a quilter too.

I told him what happened and he said he could believe,
I noticed that the coat he wore had only half a sleeve.
A husband needs a loving wife to help him when he’s ill,
To soothe and comfort, mop his brow and help him take his pills.

Should influenza strike you, your life’s not worth a dime,
Particularly if it hits at Quilt Convention time.
You’ll lay there in an empty house in pain and deep despair
While the workshops and the lectures keep your wife’s attention there.

You learn to ask no questions when she smiles and drives away
Rushing to the Fabric Shop for a big sale there today.
She’s gone for hours, then drags back home all bleary eyed and down,
Now who’d believe a lie like that? She must be running round.

But I’ll get by, I always do, some days are fine, some not.
When your wife’s a Quilter you tolerate a lot.
I know that when my life is through and I pass away
They’ll have to set my funeral so it’s not a Quilting Day

(the now famous, anonymous quilter's husband)

9 comments:

Jennifer Ann Fox said...

That is the best poem! Funny too.
What a good writer and so true!

Jennifer

http://www.feathersinthenest.blogspot.com/

Paula, the quilter said...

I had never read that poem before, it is so funny. Thanks for sharing it with us.

Scrappy quilter said...

This poem is the best and so very true. Thanks for sharing it with us.

Julia said...

Great poem...loved it..and so funny.
Julia ♥

Sunny said...

LOLOLOL! This poem is just the best! Thanks for sharing

Karen said...

Great poem! Thanks for the chuckle!

Anonymous said...

Wonderful! You gave me a great chuckle.... unfortunately, I resemble some of that! LOL

Bari

Stephanie D said...

Oh, that's too funny!

Karen said...

I love this. I think I'll ask my Hubby to come to our next Guild Mtg. and read it aloud. Thanks for post this.