PATCHWORK ANTHOLOGY Written by members of Trevean DANCING pencils Writing club
First published in 2015 by BK Press P O Box 47055. Greyville 4023 ISBN 978-1-928245-25-4 Š Trevean Dancing Pencils Writing Club 2015 Consisting of the authors: Roseanne Dix, Patricia Devenish, Roslyn Fielding Zohra Hamid, Phumzile Mthiyane, Wendy Paul, Audrey Palmer and Jeanette Plantinga
Prepared for publication: Ginny Porter
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, translated or transmitted in any form by any means electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the written permission of the authors.
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INTRODUCTION
HIS anthology is the culmination of several years of writing by the Trevean Dancing Pencils Writing Club. The writers are a group of twelve who meet once a month to write and afterwards to exchange views and news over a cup of tea. “Trevean”, the first of the Dancing Pencils Clubs, was started by Felicity Keats in 2002. This volume, “Patchwork Anthology“, is the seventh book published by this club. Club members have also published individual books of their own. Meeting at the home of the present mentor, Patricia Devenish, in a relaxed and friendly environment, the writers are able to access the creative right brain and are encouraged to write without fear of criticism or harsh judgement. Perhaps the best way to express our approach to writing is expressed in this poem, written by one of our members the first time she attended a dancing pencils writing session.
Warm and cosy Carpet on wooden flooring Samsoncat walking Around unobtrusively Soft rain outside. No formalities. No introduction. Not what do you do? Not what do I do? Just a common interest WRITING. Soft music in the backgroundPenning down our thoughts. Music stops And we read our Uncut, unabridged , uncensored Version of our innermost thoughts. Fascinating and amazing! How to read these eight Different people. Through their thoughts I slowly Got to know them. Thank you. Zohra Hamid
Contents PART ONE: PROSE
Wendy Paul The Patchwork Quilt ............................................... 2 The Awful Truth ...................................................... 6 The Valentine ........................................................... 16 Audrey Palmer Alice ........................................................................... 21 Ballerina .................................................................... 26 The Artist .................................................................. 27 Jeanette Plantinga Faith, Hope and Holidays ...................................... 30 Roslyn Fielding Oscar .......................................................................... 35 Felix ........................................................................... 38 Roseanne Dix Why the Moon is so Pale ........................................ 40 Life on the streets of Berea at Dawn ..................... 42 In the Herb Garden ................................................. 43 Memory has a Fragrance ........................................ 44 Patricia Devenish The Unforgotten....................................................... 45 San Magic.................................................................. 58 The Turning Point ................................................... 68
PART TWO: POETRY
Patricia Devenish Sixteen Days ............................................................. 83 Spring in Becker Street ............................................ 84 Confession ................................................................ 85 Elsamere .................................................................... 87 Sarah Swimming ...................................................... 89 Roseanne Dix The Stalwarts on ...................................................... 91 Darkened Streets...................................................... 91 Go Away, Bird ......................................................... 92 The Boy on a Log in the Gardens .......................... 93 Roslyn Fielding Henry the Cat ........................................................... 94 The Hidden Word ................................................... 95 Ida, my Favourite Aunt .......................................... 96 Zohra Hamid A Child’s Curiosity.................................................. 99 My Country .............................................................. 100 Dadima ...................................................................... 100 Childhood ................................................................. 101 My Journey ............................................................... 103 The Streets of Bombay ............................................ 103 The Journey .............................................................. 104 Hometodham ........................................................... 105 Mother Theresa ........................................................ 107 Her Home ................................................................. 107
The Child .................................................................. 108 Why? .......................................................................... 109 Through the Eyes..................................................... 110 Outcry........................................................................ 111 My Star Pupil ........................................................... 112 Phumzile Mthiyane Why Mourn Unendingly ........................................ 113 When Mothers Pass On?......................................... 113 Love, Sometimes You Make Me Wonder............. 115 What can be Compared to the Way ...................... 116 I Love You? ............................................................... 116 You Soothe My Soul ................................................ 117 Audrey Palmer Working World ........................................................ 118 Gathering of the Unicorns ...................................... 119 Ode for the Road...................................................... 120 When I am Sad ......................................................... 121 Urban Life ................................................................. 122 Wendy Paul My Town ................................................................... 123 The Hidden Word ................................................... 124 Baby Week ................................................................ 125 Blue ............................................................................ 126 My Leopard Tree ..................................................... 127 Dreams ...................................................................... 128
PART ONE: PROSE
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The Patchwork Quilt Wendy Paul
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HEN Saartjie de Jong picked up the magazine left behind by an American tourist in the little Koffie Shoppe in Potch, she did not realise how it would change her life forever. Every Wednesday afternoon the Ladies Group of the Ou Duikersfontein N.G. Kerk met at Tannie Elize’s house to work on patchwork quilts. A quilt might take several weeks to complete and then it was carefully wrapped in tissue paper and placed in Tannie Elize’s camphor chest until a marriage was announced in the congregation. The intended bride was ceremoniously presented with the quilt by the Ladies Group just before the wedding. But of late many young people had been leaving Duikersfontein, seeking greener pastures where there were jobs and where life offered more excitement than the rural backwater of Duikersfontein. There had not been a wedding for a long time. There were, therefore, quite a few quilts in store and no great hurry to get the next one finished.
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This suited the ladies of the Ou Duikersfontein N.G. Kerk just fine, as the quilt-making sessions were wonderful occasions to get together to chat and skinner, passing on all the gossip of the small community. They also drank Tannie Elize’s strong, dark coffee and each took a turn to bring the eats – this week Ouma Pieterse’s koeksusters, next week Tannie Sarie’s buttermelk rusks and the week after- a great treat- Rita van der Westhuizen’s melktert. Oh it was a happy group that gathered for a pleasant afternoon each Wednesday. That is, until one fateful Wednesday. Saartjie de Jong came with a picture she had torn out of a magazine. It was a picture of a quilt - an American quilt. It was called a ‘double-ringed quilt’ and looked more complicated than any they had ever made before. “Al daardie ringe! Dis ontmoontlik,” snapped Tannie Kobie. “Nee, man if the Americans can do it, so can we,” said Saartjie. “Why do we want to copy the Americans?” asked Tannie Elize. “We have our own kultuur. We are just as good as the Americans. Why do we want to copy their bliksem quilt?” 3