I Lay My Stitches Down

“A powerful grouping of thought-provoking poems and brilliantly designed paintings.”
— Kirkus Reviews (STARRED REVIEW)

"This ambitious work offers a bit of poetry, history, folk art, quilting, religion and more. Itwill definitely fill a niche in libraries." 
— School Library Journal (STARRED REVIEW)

A moving, memorable poetry collection shaped around expressive quilt patterns and the stories of enslaved people in America.

This rich and intricate collection of poems from author Cynthia Grady chronicles the various experiences of enslaved people in the United States. Named for traditional quilt block patterns like Log Cabin, Cotton Boll, and Schoolhouse, each poem—ten lines of ten syllables each—mimics the square shape of a quilt block. 

Readers experience slavery in America through fourteen different perspectives, including a woman humming “Gilead” as she quilts, a mother losing her daughter to the auction, a child discovering the freedom of learning, and a young man fleeing on the Underground Railroad.

Brought to life by vivid, expressive artwork from Michele Wood, this stirring and eloquent book offers a timeless witness to the hardship endured by enslaved men, women, and children. Each poem is supplemented by historical information and notes on quilting, musical, and spiritual references in the text.