9. Poetry: Needles
The author’s grandparents Sophie and Sam Wasserman
 Sophie Wasserman |
 Sam Wasserman |
original post 4/19/07
My dear Blogland denizens:
Yesterday’s topic reminded me of my grandma Sophie who was born in Kiev, Russia, in 1893. In those days the borders changed every other week, so you could say she was born in Romania. The week that Kiev was in Romania.
This poem is dedicated to her. She was not educated: the Tsar forbade girls from getting an education, probably because they were indentured to sew for the royals.
Grandpa Sam (Wasserman b.1888 d.1949) sent for her and they married, and raised 4 girls in a cold water flat in Brooklyn. My mother told me that when she came to this country she sewed stage costumes. And that when World War II ended, she danced in the street.
When I was six, (grandpa had died when I was 6 months old), grandma and I sat together on my mother’s feather-pillowed couch, I took out my Golden Dictionary, we looked at the pictures and words together, and I tried to teach her how to read. She spoke mainly Yiddish, she was delicate and gentle, she was smart, very beautiful, and made the best potato blintzes this side of Brooklyn.
Needles
©2002 by the author, all rights reserved
I
Sophie Kolsadt
born in Kiev,
in the province of Kishenev,
in the 1890’s,
(when, one day it was part of Russia
another day, it was Romania,)
was never allowed to go to school;
she was a girl,
but she could sew,
and when she was six,
a tiny girl with long blonde braids and green eyes,
she sewed for
The Tsar of Russia.
At Christmas she was given a dress.
II
I saw a museum exhibit
of the Russian Royal family’s treasures.
There were gold Fabergé eggs that opened and
housed intricate music boxes and dancing ballerinas,
encrusted with jewels and inlaid enamels.
There were garments of silk, awash in seas of tiny seed pearls,
heavy woven brocades of gold and silver threads
trimmed with feathers and furs.
I wondered which of the Romanovs wore
these garments,
these diamond tiaras en tremblant,
was it Anastasia?
As I looked at these,
I caught my green-eyed
reflection in the glass
in case after case in the splendid exhibit hall,
and I wondered
how many of the billions of
tiny silken stitches
my grandma Sophie may have sewn.
Comments from the parallel universe of Yahoo
(4 total)
- Frida…
Offline
Thanks for sharing this, Sue. Time flies, but it’s great to have the memories. Photos are great –you’re lucky to have them. But, what would we do without those films running in our minds, perhaps unclear, fuzzy, yet so warm and personally meaningful? Hugs!
Thursday April 19, 2007 – 01:39pm (CDT)
- Red W…
- Offline
I love old photos, those are great. I had no idea Kiev had been Romanian, I was there when it was an important city in the Soviet Union. Those are wonderful memories you have from your grandma, she must have been such a lovely person. Very nice poem, too. Have a peaceful evening, hug.
Thursday April 19, 2007 – 09:29pm (BST)
I think of my grandparents and thier parents often. It seems to keep my life in the now in perspective. It also gives me alittle insight into the future, and the ability to know how important my decision making today will be in deciding what the world will be like tomarrow for my children. Great Post Sans! I just luv the pics, thanks for sharing!
Sunday July 8, 2007 – 08:49pm (CDT)
Sunday July 8, 2007 – 08:49pm (CDT) Remove Comment
- DaniB…
- Offline
I have just discovered this gem. So beautifully written and illustrated, so informative, so touching.
Monday October 1, 2007 – 03:49pm (CEST)
- heidi b
- Offline
wunderbar more need not be said
Tuesday December 11, 2007 – 09:50am (PST)
- Nicho…
- Offline
Beautiful poem, a rich memory embroidered finely with your words, rivalling the handiwork of your grandmother. There is a deep undertow hidden here, a political message. Reminds me of Cheng Ao’s wonderful epigram in a similar vein:
Riches and Honour
An angel of a Lady makes herself Even more beautiful in front of her mirror: Her hair shines brilliantly Her headdress rich in diamonds. Does she spare a thought Of how just one of her cloud-soft tresses Bears the weight of the tax collected From twelve villages?
Thursday December 13, 2007 – 12:26am (EST)
- Seren…
- Offline
Funny I was thinking the same thing when I read she sewed for the Czar, that you can go to exhibits and wonder which pieces she worked on. I watch Fantasia and wonder the same thing. My Dad painted some of the cells, the water buckets, for the Sorcerer’s Apprentice. I watch that movie and think of him painting them, and how much they would be worth if he had one, lol
Wednesday December 12, 2007 – 11:45am (EST)
- Frani
- Offline
So beautiful! Full of emotion, survival and those good/bad old days. I loved it…
Wednesday December 12, 2007 – 12:13pm (EST)
- AB
- Offline
What a piece of history. Tx for sharing. The poem is so delicate.
Wednesday December 12, 2007 – 08:01pm (CET)
- Judy~…
- Offline
I love your memory in verse! Thanks for sharing and BTW the pictures are wonderful! Quite a handsome man any beautiful lady.
Wednesday December 12, 2007 – 03:41pm (CST) Remove Comment
- €ĿĿ€ …
- Offline
Your use of rich images such as “awash in seas of tiny seed pearls” recreate the magic of the time period. You have created the mood of the time, subtly and carefully.
I almost get the feeling of anger, regarding the excesses of the nobility,during this period in Russia, where skills of people like Sophie Kolstadt were grossly undervalued-“how many of the billions of tiny silken stitches my grandma Sophie may have sewn”
Thank you for sharing this work.
Thursday December 13, 2007 – 08:43am (EST) Remove Comment
- Just …
- Offline
Thank you as always for sharing a piece of you life and your heart. You are an awesome writer and friend and you continue to amaze me as we look inside your window to your world.
Wednesday December 12, 2007 – 09:26pm (CST) Remove Comment
 |
sanssouciblogs wrote on Dec 11, ’07
Featured for Poetry Wednesday 12/12/07
|
|
A simple but deep true…how many tiny silken stitches our grandparents had to sew in the fabric of History to help make the dress of their nation…every nation on Earth…yet, this dress has gradually been worn out by the misuse of some leaders! Thank you, Suci!!! Memory is the base of our existence!… 🙂
|
|
bostonsdandd wrote on Dec 11, ’07
I like the above comment. Smart woman!
OMG! To think that your grandmother sewed for THE Anastasia! I love the story of the Russians last Tsar. And you are a living part of that history. Unreal, my friend. Your grandmother was a wonderful woman and she leaves behind wonderful children in yourself and your sister. Be proud because you deserve to be! Be happy because you are worthy of it! Be loved because you are lovable! Thanks for hosting over here and on Yahoo. |
|
philsgal7759 wrote on Dec 11, ’07
Wow that’s neat 100 years from now I wonder what part of the family tapestry we might have sewn
|
|
lauritasita wrote on Dec 11, ’07
I’m sorry I was too young to get to know her, and she did not speak english to me. But I remember that she was a kind person, even though we did not communicate. It’s always great knowing all that information, and the pictures are so beautiful ! Lovely post, sis ! xoxoxoxo
|
|
sweetpotatoqueen wrote on Dec 11, ’07
What a lovely rembrance of your Grandma. The rich heritage we have in our country of all nationalities is a reminder of the diversity that makes up our country. Aren’t we so lucky to have a life that was made better by their hard work for hopes of a better way of life? Sue..your originality and imagination come through in your poetry….so lovely to read your works! MWAH!
|
|
lauritasita wrote on Dec 12, ’07
I came back to say “Hi” to Grandma.
|
|
lauritasita wrote on Dec 12, ’07, edited on Dec 12, ’07
Remember all the coloring books she gave me ?
|
|
lauritasita wrote on Oct 22, ’08
I remember how I loved this poem when you featured it on Yahoo! Could you add it to this week’s Poetry Wednesday sign in page ?
|
|
bostonsdandd wrote on Oct 22, ’08
I do love when you share your family history with us.
|
|
dianahopeless wrote on Oct 22, ’08
Family history or genealogy has always fascinated me. It’s nice to know what part of history our ancestors played. As a needlewoman myself, I very much appreciated your poem.
|
|
|
sanssouciblogs wrote on Oct 22, ’08
gileson said
Ha, you are funny! Someone read this poem and after leaving a comment the post got boosted up to the top, so I am happily surprised that people are reading it though it wasn’t my poem for this week.
|
Thank you for the bubbe maisse, bubeleh! 
|
My grandmother, the one that sat at my great grandmother’s feet stitching so long ago, was also named Sophie. Although she worked on the farm, and later in the factory here in town, she was always a seamstress. Taught from her mother so many years ago, after they came here from Poland. My grandmother was part of the first generation born here. Charming and sad, your writes pull at multiple heartstrings in me. A snippet of wonder at the history of someone loved within your family, and of history itself. Enchanted…. -janeen http://fluffyj.multiply.com/journal/item/
|
|
skeezicks1957 wrote on Oct 27, ’08
Relationships with grandparents are so special. I am glad to hear of your grandmother and of your family background. Family history is fascinating. Great post!
|
Comments
9. Poetry: Needles — No Comments
HTML tags allowed in your comment: <a href="" title=""> <abbr title=""> <acronym title=""> <b> <blockquote cite=""> <cite> <code> <del datetime=""> <em> <i> <q cite=""> <s> <strike> <strong>