Summary Of The Century Quilt

It is important to look forward to the future while still remembering the past. In Marilyn Nelson Waniek’s poem “The Century Quilt,” a comfortable tone and detailed symbolism work together to reveal how a family heirloom can be both a reminder of heritage and as well as a representation of dreams for the future. Throughout the poem, the poet’s cozy tone elicits a sense of happy nostalgia, showing the character’s contentment with the thoughts that the quilt causes her to reflect upon. Phrases such as, “Each square holds a sweet gum leaf whose fingers I imagine would caress me into the silence,” and “I think I’d have good dreams for a hundred years under this quilt, as Meema must have” show that she takes comfort in her remembrance. This conveys