USNS COMFORT SHIP Quilt
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


 
 
(PAULA (PARADIS) GODES, MY BROTHER'S DAUGHTER,  STATIONED ON THE USNS COMFORT SHIP FOR SIX MONTHS SHARED THE ART OF QUILT MAKING WITH HER PATIENTS, AMERICANS, COALITION FORCES, AND THE IRAQIS SHE AND HER  MEDICAL CREW WERE SENT TO LIBERATE.) 

[For Related Stories, see below, pictures of quilt, Godes, etc.]

MY PAULA (PARADIS) GODES POEM

By Annette Paradis King

                    -1-

I believe if you walked on earth 
there is a story to tell 
I write all this down feeling
each story must be told
and if not written
how will others know 
those characters lived at all,
far better if my words go 
beyond you and me. 
A growing pride comes 
watching a new generation make its 
greater contributions, carrying on,
yes, carrying on our father's dreams.

                    -2-
Years ago Aunt Marguerite
with an eagerness for crafting quilts 
was elated by your gift to create 
beyond her professional stitches. 
Yet, from handed down humility only smiled 
as you her pupil soared. In time with your 
childhood experiences tucked deep inside
to your fingertips, you faced with courage 
life's path. What went on between 
you two I did not hear 
but gather from my screen the pride on
 your dear face, your smile, your posture
is so like ours. Is there something here,
or all my imagination.  I look again to the 
child I never knew; yet, it feels I always knew.
Am I being deceived, am I being wishful?

                           3
A new generation of women with 
leadership talents, ability to speak publicly,
these are the gifts of our father, your father, 
Eugene, Marguerite, Laura, Lydia and mine. 
Your fire burns bright and reaches high
courage to walk with head held high
wisdom to make destinations come alive
stamina to work to achieve 
vigor to accept hardships far beyond
the use of your hands that heal and sooth, 
This is your mark, now. 
Oh, there is more,
a back bone to spread peace among those who
look for your examples of extraordinary 
success offerings from hands
 filled with merciful bits called miracles 
 as we speak. All this surely came
 from the blood of your father's and his.

                              -4-

Your mentor, gave with joy as well
for she was flesh and bones of our father 
who knew a vision of what might be. 
I find no words to honor her best
for never did a heart hold more love 
which she repressed, compensating with 
great generosity 
enough, was never enough. 

In you, she found new heights
the place where she alone dreamed. 
 I imagine her dancing
 in some secret place--we knew she did..

She must have hung around to hear your 
acclamations  one day  before she left for good. 
Barbara and you honored her well.
She must have felt totally loved at last,
down-deep in her heart and gone on that day in peace. 
I loved you for this. Helpless at the time, this helped 
up to the part of not knowing you, 
that hurt even more and has many times since.

                                        -5-

My screen is large as life 
showing the majestic USNS Comfort Ship
the one you served on and 
when finished the day's humanitarian 
work you evoked your interest in others to stitch a quilt
that gave hope to people who had no hope left. 
You wanted to tell the story you said of the "Comfort" 
and you wanted to tell it in an artistic way. 
Thus your comfort quilt hangs in 
the Women in Military Service for America Memorial. 

You stand in front of me on the deck of 
your Comfort Ship your Comfort Quilt 
waves below like a flag in itself.
where most of the attention is focused
but my eyes are on your smile the one 
so many of our women, generations 
in themselves wore identically..
Your face beams the joy of your 
accomplishments 
the pride for servicing  your country 
and for a job well done. 

                         -6-

I have looked so many times--and see 
your warmth for your country the same 
warmth your Dad, your uncle, a grandfather 
demonstrated not so long ago.
Some place it is written life is a circle. 
If one lives long enough 
it's clear as rain, 
his circle!.
Hands, your hands continue our story 
for they are the same hands your father
used to lead you toward your dreams, 
the same hands Marguerite worked fabric 
into beautiful landscapes remembered from 
a Maine childhood and adopted state of Arizona. 
Then there were the hands of great grandmothers 
who served their families stretching little food
in hopes to sooth a dozen children, and on
that same day perhaps sewed from pieces of
cloth already worn with ware
to give some small form of survival 
that seems today 
beyond human possibility.
You, woman of 2004 carry this touch 

How proud of our name and heritage 
 it shines its light 
out far as distant cousins, 
schoolrooms filled with them.
It comes back to your hands 
your mind and how your
cousins look on and dream 
of things that may
come from your patriotic story
encouragements for women
of tomorrow and I ask that 
their hands be blessed as yours 
by these bones on bones telling
stories someone else to read.
 

I'm enclosing a poem I recently created. I don't know if it convays the feeling I get thinking of our beginning in Maine and the leap into this new world and the leap one niece has taken. She  learned to quilt from my sister, who learned to quilt from our aunts on the [French] Island. [...featured in map above situated in the Penobscot River] If you think it  is something you want to add to 'ezine, I will be very proud to have you publish it there.

Thanks,
Best,
Annette
Author of:
GROWING UP ON ACADEMY HILL 
Remembering My French-Canadian-American Papa

http://www.fawi.net/ezine/vol3no4/AnnettePKing.html

Related Stories:
Nov. 12, 2004
Quilt Exhibit Highlights Veterans Day at Women's Memorial
By Rudi Williams



November 18, 2004 
Comfort Quilt Dedicated at Veteran's Day Ceremony


September 2, 2004 
Bringing Comfort Together Stitch by Stitch


Poster of The Comfort Quilt on display at Women in Military Service for America Memorial
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